### Oklahoma Revises Controversial Bible Request for Public Schools

Oklahoma has modified its initial request for 55,000 Bibles to be introduced into public schools, deviating from an earlier requirement that matched a version endorsed by former President Donald Trump. This decision, which was amended on Monday, now excludes the necessity for these Bibles to contain U.S. historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The previous requirement had aligned with the "God Bless the USA Bible" endorsed by Trump, which is significantly more expensive than similar Bibles without these documents.

The updated request allows for the historical documents to be included either together or separately and extends the deadline for offer submissions from October 14 to October 21. This initiative is part of State Superintendent Ryan Walters' push to include Bibles in public school classrooms, a move that has met opposition from several of Oklahoma’s largest school districts. Walters, in a video posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), emphasized the Bible’s historical significance in America and criticized the media for spreading falsehoods about the program.

“The left-wing media despises Donald Trump and the Bible to such an extent that they will fabricate lies to obstruct this initiative,” Walters stated in his video. Dan Issett, Walters' spokesperson, explained that the adjustments to the request were recommended by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) and agreed to by Walters. Issett also refuted claims that the request was designed for a specific organization, noting that crafting a request to benefit a single manufacturer would be unlawful.

Christa Helfrey, spokesperson for OMES, mentioned that the revisions aimed to reduce taxpayer expenses. “OMES collaborated with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to amend the solicitation, offering resources at a substantially better value for Oklahomans,” Helfrey stated. Previously, the requirement included specifications not typically found in Bibles but present in the "God Bless the USA Bible," which Trump had promoted early this year at a price of $59.99. The initial specifications also mandated that the Bibles be bound in durable "leather or leather-like material," whereas similar Bibles without the extra historical documents are available online for under $20.