RIGHT BIAS
These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.
- Overall, we rate the Defense of Freedom Institute as right-biased due to its alignment with the Trump administration, Project 2025, and its ideological campaigns against unions, DEI, and gender-inclusive policies in education. We also rate it as Mixed in terms of reporting, as its legal filings and documents are based on policy and case law; however, its conclusions reflect a strongly partisan viewpoint, with limited diversity in sourcing and highly emotive language.
Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT (6.4)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (5.1)
Country: USA
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 2021, the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies (DFI) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit focused on education, workforce, and labor policy from a conservative-libertarian perspective. Co-founded by former Trump administration officials Robert Eitel and Jim Blew—both of whom served under Secretary Betsy DeVos—DFI claims to advance school choice, civil rights, and limited government by combating “radical indoctrination” in education and limiting the power of teachers’ unions and federal agencies. The organization’s staff includes experienced attorneys and policy operatives with strong ties to Republican institutions, including the Federalist Society and the Trump White House.
Read our profile on the United States media and government.
Funded by / Ownership
DFI is a 501(c)(3) public charity and does not accept government funding. According to its IRS Form 990, it is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and right-leaning philanthropic organizations. It has received support from donors aligned with conservative causes, although exact contribution figures are not publicly disclosed. DFI’s donation portal supports both recurring and one-time contributions.
Analysis / Bias
DFI exhibits a clear right-leaning ideological bias, particularly in its strong opposition to public-sector unions, “woke” education, and gender-inclusive school policies. Its legal complaints, research reports, and press statements frequently echo the priorities of Project 2025—the Heritage Foundation’s presidential transition blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term. DFI formally joined the advisory board of Project 2025 in 2024, reinforcing its alignment with far-right education and civil rights policy.
In a prominent case, DFI filed a federal civil rights complaint against a New York school district for allowing a transgender student to access girls’ locker rooms. DFI framed the situation as a Title IX violation, characterizing it as harassment and accusing the district of penalizing girls for objecting. The group called the school’s gender identity policy “absurd” and described the matter as a “social experiment,” using emotionally charged rhetoric that mirrors anti-trans activist talking points.
In its report, “Summer of Woke III: The Empire Strikes Back,” DFI claims that the AFT and NEA are pushing “radical environmentalism,” “gender ideology,” “Critical Race Theory,” and “anti-Israel” positions through union resolutions. It links teacher activism to Marxist ideology and accuses unions of prioritizing politics over student performance. The language is ideological, crafted to rally opposition to mainstream progressive education policies.
In another post, DFI applauded Donald Trump’s executive order banning “radical indoctrination” in schools, saying “no more” to “radical beliefs about race and sex.” The statement decries any curriculum that deviates from colorblind, biology-based interpretations of civil rights law.
Other work includes oversight initiatives such as FOIA requests targeting state compliance with Title IX, and litigation challenging union influence and civil rights enforcement under liberal interpretations.
While DFI’s articles and reports often reference existing laws and regulations, the analytical framing is consistently ideological, and source diversity is limited. Reports are not peer-reviewed and frequently cite partisan interpretations of law and education trends.
Failed Fact Checks
- As of this date, no formal IFCN-certified failed fact checks have been recorded. However, DFI’s framing of civil rights law is often contested by legal scholars, and its interpretation of Title IX has been criticized by civil liberties groups for disregarding gender identity protections affirmed by federal courts.
Overall, we rate the Defense of Freedom Institute as right-biased due to its alignment with the Trump administration, Project 2025, and its ideological campaigns against unions, DEI, and gender-inclusive policies in education. We also rate it as Mixed in terms of reporting, as its legal filings and documents are based on policy and case law; however, its conclusions reflect a strongly partisan viewpoint, with limited diversity in sourcing and highly emotive language. (D. Van Zandt 07/05/2025)
Source: https://dfipolicy.org/
Last Updated on July 5, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check
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