Dismantle DEI Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 925

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-05-14T08:07:40Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The "Dismantle DEI Act of 2025" (H.R. 925) aims to promote equal protection under the law by prohibiting what it defines as discriminatory practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the federal government. It seeks to eliminate programs, trainings, and offices perceived as promoting racism or unequal treatment based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, biological sex, or national origin, while preserving traditional equal employment opportunity (EEO) and disability rights enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Definition of Prohibited Practices: Adds a new section to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 defining a "prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice" as (1) discriminating based on protected characteristics; (2) requiring training that claims certain groups are inherently superior, inferior, oppressive, or privileged; or (3) mandating assent to statements endorsing such views as a condition of employment, promotion, or participation.

• Rescission of Executive Actions (Title I): Revokes specific executive orders and memoranda from 2021–2023 promoting racial equity, gender policy, and DEI in the federal workforce. Requires agencies to close related programs and offices within 90 days, with reductions in force and no reassignment of affected staff.

• Federal Offices and Personnel Reforms (Title I):
• Directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to revise regulations, training, and guidance within 180 days to comply with the Act and rescind DEI-related materials.
• Closes all federal DEI offices, the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council, and similar entities; prohibits funding for DEI positions, employee resource groups based on protected characteristics, equity teams, and certain data dashboards.
• Amends federal personnel laws to ban adverse actions (e.g., in hiring, promotions, or appraisals) for refusing DEI trainings or statements; prohibits "racist behavior" like discriminatory training.

• Federal Training Restrictions (Title II): Bans development, funding, or mandatory participation in trainings on DEI, critical theory (e.g., related to race or gender), intersectionality, or sexual orientation/gender identity if they promote prohibited views. Applies government-wide.

• Federal Contracting Rules (Title III): Requires contracts over $10,000 to include clauses barring contractors from engaging in prohibited practices; prohibits federal funds for contractors' DEI offices, officers, or trainings. Strengthens anti-discrimination provisions in public building programs.

• Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Title IV): Mandates grant and agreement terms prohibiting use of federal funds for DEI offices, trainings, or practices; exceptions for non-federal funds and traditional EEO/disability offices. Exempts Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

• Federal Advisory Committees (Title V): Prohibits advisory committees from authorizing DEI practices; allows termination by administrators or inspectors general if violations occur. Enables private lawsuits to force committee dissolution, with penalties including $1,000 per violation per day.

• Education Provisions (Title VI):
• Amends accreditation standards to bar agencies from requiring or encouraging DEI practices in higher education institutions; protects religious institutions from discrimination.
• Prohibits the Secretary of Education from using funds for DEI offices, officers, or trainings in elementary/secondary education.

• Other Sector-Specific Changes (Title VII):
• Repeals DEI-related offices and reporting in housing finance (e.g., Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac), financial regulation (e.g., Dodd-Frank offices), health services, Department of Defense (e.g., chief diversity officer), Homeland Security/Coast Guard, and intelligence community.
• Applies Civil Rights Act protections to corporate boards of public companies; bans regulators from mandating DEI in finance and securities.

• Enforcement and Severability (Title VIII): Allows private civil actions in federal court for violations, with remedies including injunctions, damages ($1,000 minimum per day), attorney fees, and other relief. Includes a severability clause to preserve the Act if parts are invalidated.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amendments to Core Statutes: Inserts the prohibited DEI definition into the Civil Rights Act of 1964; expands Title 5 U.S. Code (personnel management) to ban DEI in hiring, training, and appraisals; revises the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Higher Education Act, and Elementary/Secondary Education Act to restrict DEI.
• Repeals: Eliminates specific DEI mandates, such as diversity reporting in defense (10 U.S.C. §113), chief diversity officers in multiple agencies, and equity offices in finance and health.
• New Requirements: Introduces mandatory contract/grant clauses, performance appraisal protections, and oversight programs in OPM/OMB to enforce anti-DEI standards, shifting from promotion to prohibition of such initiatives.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Requires closure of DEI offices across executive agencies, leading to staff reductions (e.g., no reassignments) and policy overhauls within 90–180 days. Increases administrative burdens for compliance monitoring and could reduce focus on equity programs, potentially streamlining operations but limiting diversity initiatives.
• On Citizens: Federal employees and job applicants gain protections against mandatory DEI trainings or discriminatory practices, possibly reducing workplace tensions but limiting access to certain support groups. Contractors, grant recipients, and students may face funding restrictions for DEI activities, affecting non-profits, universities, and businesses reliant on federal support.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but rescinds a National Security Memorandum on foreign policy workforce diversity, potentially altering recruitment for diplomatic roles.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies and Employees: OPM, OMB, Defense, Education, Homeland Security, Intelligence Community, and others must dismantle DEI structures, affecting thousands of staff in related roles.
• Contractors and Businesses: Federal contractors, financial institutions (e.g., banks, securities firms), and housing entities face new compliance requirements, prohibiting DEI use of federal funds.
• Educational Institutions: Accreditors, universities, and K-12 schools cannot use federal funds for DEI, impacting curriculum, hiring, and programs (except HBCUs and traditional EEO).
• Citizens and Advocacy Groups: Individuals alleging DEI discrimination can sue; civil rights, LGBTQ+, and equity advocates may see reduced federal support, while anti-DEI groups benefit from enforcement mechanisms.
• Advisory and Regulatory Bodies: Federal advisory committees and self-regulatory organizations (e.g., in finance) risk termination or penalties for non-compliance.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: Expands private rights of action under the Civil Rights Act, allowing individuals to challenge DEI as discrimination with strong remedies (e.g., daily fines), potentially increasing litigation against agencies and recipients. Enforcement mirrors Title VI procedures but adds unique penalties.
• Constitutional Implications: Aligns with equal protection under the 14th Amendment by framing DEI as reverse discrimination; protects First Amendment rights by barring coerced ideological trainings or statements. Could face challenges if seen as infringing free speech or religious freedoms, though it explicitly safeguards religious institutions.
• Political Implications: Represents a conservative push to rollback Biden-era equity policies, emphasizing merit-based systems over identity-focused initiatives. May polarize debates on racism and inclusion, influencing future legislation on civil rights and federal workforce diversity. The severability clause ensures resilience against partial invalidation.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27]

Cosponsors (108)

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10], Rep. Strong, Dale W. [R-AL-5], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8], Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. McGuire, John [R-VA-5], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. Webster, Daniel [R-FL-11], Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5], Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3], Rep. DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN-4], Rep. Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL-4], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. McDowell, Addison [R-NC-6] and 58 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Workforce, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2025-02-04: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-04: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Dismantle DEI Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-04 — PDF (47 pages)

Related Bills

• S. 382 (119th Congress)