Dismantling Ideological Policies for Semiconductors and Science Act

Bill Number

S. 1745

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Science, Technology, Communications

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-05-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Last Updated

2025-06-24T11:03:18Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The bill, titled the "Dismantling Ideological Policies for Semiconductors and Science Act," seeks to repeal or modify provisions in the CHIPS Act of 2022 and the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (collectively known as the CHIPS and Science Act) that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs and semiconductor initiatives. It expresses a congressional view that DEI efforts create unnecessary bureaucracy and discrimination by prioritizing characteristics like race, ethnicity, sex, or sexual orientation over merit. The legislation aims to refocus federal support on speeding up domestic STEM workforce development and technological competitiveness without such preferences. Additionally, it limits certain non-law-based (nonstatutory) federal requirements imposed on organizations applying for government funding.

Key Provisions

The bill is divided into two main titles:

• Title I: Repeals and Modifications
• Repeals sections related to DEI in opportunity and inclusion for semiconductors (e.g., Sec. 101).
• Eliminates redundant scientific collaboration programs at the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation (NSF) (e.g., Sec. 102).
• Removes requirements for educational outreach to underrepresented communities (e.g., Sec. 103) and diversity in recruiting STEM educators (e.g., Sec. 104).
• Strikes diversity mandates in programs like the national network for microelectronics education (Sec. 105), STEM research capacity (Sec. 106), and technology research (Sec. 107).
• Abolishes the NSF Chief Diversity Officer position (Sec. 108) and programs funding DEI research in STEM (Sec. 109) or higher education activities (Sec. 110).
• Modifies outreach for entrepreneurial fellowships to be nationwide without DEI focus (Sec. 111) and amends NSF scholarships/fellowships to prioritize U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and domestic workforce needs, while supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) without race-based elements (Sec. 112).
• Repeals reviews of research awards for cultural barriers (Sec. 113), demographic data collection on faculty (Sec. 114), DEI best practices for STEM workforces (Sec. 115), and related congressional reports (Sec. 116).
• Preserves STEM support for HBCUs and TCUs but removes references to other minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and race-based activities (Sec. 117).
• Repeals or modifies DEI elements in energy security foundations (Sec. 118), clean energy prize competitions (Sec. 119), and airplane technology initiatives (Sec. 120).
• Changes the purpose of the Office of STEM Engagement to emphasize a "robust and capable" workforce without DEI language (Sec. 121).
• Includes clerical amendments to update tables of contents (Sec. 122).

• Title II: Limiting Federal Mandates
• Prohibits federal agencies from imposing nonstatutory requirements (rules not explicitly in laws) on funding applicants, including:
• DEI hiring, training, or retention policies (similar to Executive Order 14035).
• Workforce plans for diverse or economically disadvantaged hires.
• Childcare, adult care, transportation, housing, or emergency assistance for employees.
• Community investment plans for affordable housing or vouchers.
• Environmental impact minimization, climate change mitigation, or environmental justice planning.
• Project labor agreements or consultations with local labor groups (Sec. 201).

A "Sense of Congress" section (Sec. 2) underscores the need for merit-based STEM support to maintain U.S. competitiveness, viewing DEI as divisive and bureaucratic.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Repeals DEI-Focused Elements: Directly eliminates over 20 sections from the CHIPS and Science Act that mandated DEI considerations in funding, education, research, and workforce programs, restoring pre-2022 language where applicable (e.g., reverting NIST education sections).
• Shifts Priorities: Amends programs to emphasize merit, U.S. citizens/permanent residents, and broad talent recruitment without preferences based on protected characteristics; removes data collection and reporting on demographics or barriers.
• Preserves Targeted Support: Maintains funding and partnerships for HBCUs and TCUs but excludes broader MSI involvement and race/ethnicity-based initiatives.
• Broadens Mandate Limits: Introduces a new restriction on agency-imposed rules beyond statutory requirements, targeting administrative policies on equity, environment, and labor that could burden funding seekers.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Agencies like the NSF, Department of Energy, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would face reduced administrative burdens from DEI compliance, reporting, and positions (e.g., no Chief Diversity Officer), potentially streamlining operations but requiring updates to guidelines and programs. This could save resources but limit tools for addressing workforce gaps.
• On Citizens: STEM students, educators, and workers from underrepresented groups may see diminished targeted outreach, scholarships, or barrier-reduction efforts, shifting focus to general merit-based access. U.S. citizens and permanent residents could benefit from prioritized domestic workforce growth, while HBCU/TCU students retain specific support. Broader applicants for federal funds (e.g., companies, universities) would avoid nonstatutory mandates like childcare or environmental planning, possibly easing participation but reducing incentives for inclusive or sustainable practices.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the bill emphasizes domestic STEM capacity; however, removing DEI in international collaborations (e.g., scientific programs) could subtly affect U.S. partnerships abroad by prioritizing national talent over global equity norms.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies and Programs: NSF, Department of Energy, NIST, and related offices, which must implement repeals and modify operations.
• Educational Institutions: Universities, HBCUs, TCUs, and STEM programs, gaining streamlined funding but losing DEI-specific grants and data tools.
• STEM Workforce and Students: Researchers, educators, fellows, and trainees, particularly those from diverse or low-income backgrounds, who may face reduced equity-focused opportunities.
• Industry and Funding Seekers: Semiconductor firms, tech companies, and nonprofits applying for CHIPS/Science Act funds, benefiting from fewer mandates on DEI, labor, or environmental policies.
• Labor and Community Groups: Unions, environmental justice advocates, and local organizations, potentially losing influence through prohibited consultations or planning requirements.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal Implications: The bill could invite lawsuits under anti-discrimination laws (e.g., Title VI of the Civil Rights Act) if repeals are seen as removing protections against barriers for minorities, or under the Administrative Procedure Act if agencies' nonstatutory rules are challenged as overreach. Definitions of "nonstatutory mandates" may lead to disputes over what qualifies as permissible agency guidance.
• Constitutional Implications: Aligns with equal protection under the 14th Amendment by prohibiting race/ethnicity-based preferences, but critics might argue it undermines efforts to remedy historical inequities without violating strict scrutiny standards for race-conscious policies (as in Supreme Court cases like Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard).
• Political Implications: Reflects partisan divides on DEI, with sponsors (e.g., Sen. Cotton) framing it as anti-bureaucracy and pro-merit; passage could signal a broader rollback of equity initiatives in federal science funding, influencing future appropriations and executive orders, though it faces referral to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions for debate.

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

Sponsor

Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Cosponsors (5)

Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

Recent Actions

• 2025-05-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
• 2025-05-13: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Dismantling Ideological Policies for Semiconductors and Science Act — issued 2025-05-13 — PDF (18 pages)