Mitch McConnell Demands Removal of The 1619 Project From Federal Grant Programs Senator Mitch McConnell sports a facemask during a press briefing. Image/Twitter:@TheHill Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is continuing his fight to take down the 1619 Project. The Republican politician sent out a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona where he demanded the project’s removal from federal grant programs, Politico reports. The leader’s issue with the curriculum stems from the project’s focus on how slavery has impacted modern forms of racial injustice and systemic inequality. McConnell feels The New York Times 1619 Project provides a “re-orient” view of American history “away from their intended purposes toward a politicized and divisive agenda,” CNN reports.