WASHINGTON—Republican Congressman Michael Cloud of Texas and Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri will introduce the “Dismantle DEI Act” on Tuesday, The Daily Wire can first report.
The bill comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s executive actions on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is intended to codify these actions into law, preventing any future administration from reviving the policies.
Cloud emphasized to The Daily Wire that his bill is about “restoring common sense, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely, and refocusing the federal government on serving all Americans fairly.” He expressed gratitude to Trump for reversing the policies of the Biden administration, stating: “It’s now Congress’s job to follow through and codify the permanent elimination of DEI from our government.”
“DEI was never about fairness or opportunity — it was a Trojan horse for left-wing political social engineering that fosters division, not unity,” Cloud said Tuesday. “Hiring and promotion should be because of someone’s merit, excellence, and hard work, regardless of race, religion, or creed.”
President Joe Biden used executive orders to embed DEI in almost every federal agency, requiring these agencies to prioritize gender, race, and identity over merit and performance. Biden also created “Chief Diversity Officers” and mandated “Equity Action Plans” that funneled taxpayer dollars into DEI programs.
Rep. Michael Cloud (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The Dismantle DEI Act would shutter all DEI offices and ban agencies from repurposing or renaming these offices in order to quietly continue their DEI practices under a different name. It also would bar the use of federal funds for any DEI, race-based, or Critical Race Theory-related trainings, grants, or programs. Additionally, it would grant individuals the right to challenge any violations of the law in court.
“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have plagued our federal government, academic institutions, and other aspects of our society, cheapening standards while disregarding merit,” Schmitt told The Daily Wire on Tuesday. “Moreover, taxpayer dollars should not be wasted on this poisonous, divisive ideology. These programs have absolutely no business in our federal government, and I am proud to reintroduce this critical bill that will save taxpayer dollars and put a stop to the DEI madness.”
Reporting from the Washington Examiner found that the Biden administration spent over $16 million on diversity training in 2023. Biden-era DEI initiatives include mandatory DEI training for military commanders, nuclear engineers, and IRS staff. One training at Sandia National Laboratories, which designs America’s nuclear weapons, ordered engineers to confront “white male culture” — a culture that might be exhibited through a “can-do attitude” and “hard work.”
