JD Vance and Michael Cloud introduce bill to eliminate DEI programs in federal government

Washington Examiner

Brady Knox | June 12, 2024

Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) introduced a bill to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government.

The wide-ranging Dismantle DEI Act was co-sponsored by 20 other Republicans in Congress. If passed, it would not only eliminate DEI programs in the federal government but also would rescind executive orders based around DEI from President Joe Biden, end DEI training, outlaw mandatory employee DEI pledges, prevent the awarding of federal contracts to entities that employ DEI practices, and prevent educational accreditation agencies from leveraging their position to push DEI policies in education institutions, among other measures.

“DEI practices have zero place in our federal government,” Cloud said in a statement. “These initiatives, presented as promoting fairness, have instead fostered division and racial bias within our institutions and culture — which is not conducive to serving taxpayers well. This bill is a necessary step to restore merit and equality, not equity, in America’s government institutions, and eliminate the DEI bureaucracy that sows division and wastes taxpayer money. It’s absurd to fund these divisive policies, especially using Americans’ tax dollars, and it’s time for Congress to put an end to them once and for all.”

“The DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division,” Vance said in a statement. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation, which would root out DEI from our federal bureaucracy by eliminating such programs and stripping funding for DEI policies anywhere it exists. Americans’ tax dollars should not be co-opted to spread this radical and divisive ideology — this bill would ensure they are not.”

The bill was endorsed by Heritage Action for America, Citizens for Renewing America, and the Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life. The heads of each praised the bill.

“DEI destroys competence while making Americans into enemies. This ideology must be fought, and its offices removed. Senator Vance’s and Congressman Cloud’s comprehensive legislation will do just this in the federal bureaucracy,” said Arthur Milikh, executive director of the Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life.

If passed, the bill would mark a mortal blow to a movement that gained extensive ground following the death of George Floyd in the summer of 2020. Following his election, President Joe Biden went to great lengths to help cement DEI programs within the federal government.

Republicans have consistently criticized DEI programs as racist and discriminatory. Pushback against DEI has started to gain ground amid wider fatigue, largely surrounding campus protests centering on the war in Gaza.