Springfield Standard

Senator Eric Schmitt and Congressman Michael Cloud have put forward the Dismantle DEI Act, a legislative proposal designed to enshrine into law the executive actions initiated by President Trump aimed at terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The legislation seeks to prevent future administrations from reinstating policies reminiscent of those from the Biden era.

Senator Schmitt described DEI as a long-standing issue within the federal government and various societal institutions, arguing that it disregards merit. "DEI has plagued our federal government, academic institutions, and other aspects of our society for far too long, all while disregarding merit in the process," he stated. He emphasized that America is a "meritocracy" and criticized the use of taxpayer dollars for what he described as a "divisive ideology." Schmitt expressed pride in collaborating with Congressman Cloud on this legislation, highlighting its aim to save taxpayer money and eliminate DEI initiatives from the federal government.

President Trump had previously signed Executive Order 14151 on January 20, 2025, titled "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing." This order put an end to DEI programs across federal departments and agencies and called for a comprehensive list of federal contractors and grantees tied to these programs. The Dismantle DEI Act intends to further the President's agenda by ensuring that all DEI offices are closed, prohibiting agencies from renaming or repurposing them, barring federal funds from supporting DEI-related training or identity-based quotas, and providing individuals with the legal recourse to contest violations of these provisions.

The introduction of the Dismantle DEI Act saw support from several senators, including Cotton, Lankford, Daines, Tuberville, Blackburn, Marshall, Lummis, Cassidy, Risch, Cramer, Banks, Sheehy, Hyde-Smith, Rick Scott, Lee, Crapo, Johnson, Budd, and Hawley. The text of the bill is available for public reading.