Republicans demand the Biden administration explain an 'outrageous' $37.7 million fine imposed on a Christian university and accuse the Education Department of 'inappropriately targeting' the country's largest Christian school

House Republicans demand to know why the largest Christian school in the U.S. was slapped with a steep $37.7 million fine by the Biden administration.

They say the massive fine may based on 'political animus' and a tool of government weaponization being used by Biden's federal agency.

Grand Canyon University (GCU), the nation's largest Christian school, was allegedly fined for lying to 7,500 students about the cost of doctoral degrees in October 2023 to boost enrollment, according to the agency.

But GCU has denied the charges and is currently appealing the decision. 

Four House GOP members, led by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., sent a letter to the Department of Education Monday demanding an explanation for the enormous penalty. 

The lawmakers - all from Arizona where the university is based - want to see the 'evidence' that the department has compiled to levy such an 'outrageous fine.'

Grand Canyon University, a conservative Christian university in Phoenix, Arizona, boasts nearly 26,000 college-aged students and an additional 92,000 online students 

According to the Department of Education, the university lied about the price of its doctoral programs in order to boost enrollment

'The Department of Education appears to be using its unchecked power to inappropriately target GCU,' the lawmakers wrote in the letter obtained by DailyMail.com, adding that the university has been 'targeted.'

'This outrageous fine and the 'evidence' supporting the allegations must be investigated, say the lawmakers.

Arizona Republican Reps. Eli Crane, Debbie Lesko and Paul Gosar also signed the letter.

The lawmakers argued that the university has a target on its back after converting from a for-profit institution to a non-profit in 2018.

But GCU's transition to non-profit status was supported by the Internal Revenue Service, the Higher Learning Commission, the State of Arizona, Arizona Private Postsecondary Board and NCAA Athletics, as the lawmakers point out. 

The Education Department's actions instead 'are a direct result of their well-documented disapproval of successful for-profit colleges and their unexplainable opposition to GCU’s 2018 conversion from for-profit to non-profit,' the lawmakers wrote.

They also cited several recent instances where other universities fined by the department received far lesser penalties for seemingly far greater infractions. 

'For example, Michigan State University was fined $4.5 million for a systemic failure to address years of sexual abuse and harassment,' the letter states.

'Temple University was fined just $700,000 for lying to U.S. News & World Report for years about its online M.B.A. program to sustain high rankings and attract more students.'

'Given the actual harms committed by these two schools, there’s no reasonable explanation for [the department's] disproportionate punishment of GCU,' the letter continued.

Biggs told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'The Department of Education's egregious fine against GCU is yet another example of a weaponized federal government.' 

'The [Education Department] is utilizing its unchecked bureaucratic power to unjustly target a Christian university,' he continued. 

The Phoenix-based university markets itself as a Christian institute and boasts nearly 26,000 college-aged students and an additional 92,000 online students. 

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., sent a letter to ED Inspector General Sandra Bruce demanding the evidence of GCU's crimes that have resulted in a $37.7 million fine against the school 

Brian Mueller, the university's president, has called the fine 'government overreach' and claimed the institution has been unfairly targeted. 

'This is the weaponization of a department that has an opinion that isn’t shared by anybody else,' Mueller told an arena full of students and faculty in November.

'There’s no corroborating evidence to indicate that there’s something nefarious going on here.'

GCU's appeal of the fine is ongoing.