Overview:
New banners honoring historic education figures, including Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., and Anne Sullivan, were installed outside the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., but the inclusion of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has sparked controversy.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — New banners featuring prominent figures connected to education and American history were installed outside the United States Department of Education headquarters on Maryland Avenue on March 1, as part of a campaign highlighting leaders who have influenced learning and public life.
Among those featured on the banners are Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., Catharine Beecher, Booker T. Washington, and Anne Sullivan. However, many critics question why Charlie Kirk, a conservative political commentator and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was included in the banners.
The display coincides with national messaging tied to the United States’ upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026. Several banners feature slogans such as “Empowering our states to tell the stories of our heroes in American education,” “Recharting the course toward a brighter future for American education,” and “Turning the page to the next 250 years of academic excellence.”
In a statement, Department of Education press secretary Savannah Newhouse said the banners recognize “visionary leaders whose contributions have shaped the future of education for generations.” The statement referenced Benjamin Franklin’s well-known quote that “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
The inclusion of Charlie Kirk has drawn attention because, unlike the other figures featured, he was not primarily known for a career in education. Kirk, 31, was a political activist and commentator who frequently spoke on college campuses.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. Authorities later charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and other felonies in connection with the shooting.
The installation of the banners at the Department of Education comes amid other displays appearing on federal buildings in Washington. In February, a large banner featuring Donald Trump was placed outside the United States Department of Justice headquarters with the phrase “Make America Safe Again.”
Officials say the banner installations are part of broader efforts to highlight American history and leadership as the country approaches its 250th anniversary.
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