Bill to Purge DEI From Federal Government Moves Forward

The House of Representatives has taken a major step toward eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs from the federal government. On Wednesday, the House Oversight Committee passed Texas Rep. Michael Cloud’s “Dismantle DEI Act” on a party-line vote, sending the bill to the full House for consideration.

The legislation, a cornerstone of the GOP’s fight against left-wing identity politics, would prohibit DEI initiatives in federal offices, training programs, grants, and more. Cloud and co-sponsor Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) argue that these programs waste taxpayer dollars, promote discrimination, and undermine merit-based principles foundational to American success.

Rep. Cloud made a compelling case against DEI policies during Wednesday’s hearing, describing them as “an ideology within our federal government” that threatens justice and equality.

• Historical Betrayal: Cloud argued that DEI policies undo decades of hard-fought progress, from the abolition of slavery to the victories of the civil rights movement.

• Inefficiency and Division: A report by Do No Harm found over 500 DEI-related actions implemented by the Biden administration, which Cloud claimed have led to wasteful programs, unqualified hires, and diminished public safety.

• Merit-Based Principles: Cloud stated, “The Dismantle DEI Act strikes at the heart of this harmful ideology, ensuring our government is driven by excellence and equality not divisive identity politics.”

Democrats on the Oversight Committee fiercely opposed the bill, accusing Republicans of ignoring systemic racism. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) criticized Republicans for quoting Martin Luther King Jr., claiming they were misrepresenting his legacy.

“Please keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s name out of your mouths,” Pressley demanded. “Your perversion of his words and his mission is offensive.”

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) fired back, rejecting the notion that Republicans should shy away from invoking MLK. “We will quote who we please to quote. And we will continue to speak freely,” Higgins declared.

The bill’s Senate sponsor, J.D. Vance, introduced the legislation in June, calling DEI a “destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division.” Vance criticized the Biden administration for leveraging identity-based policies to push left-wing agendas, emphasizing that DEI has “no place in our federal government or anywhere else in our society.”

Cloud and Vance argue the legislation restores fairness and unity to government operations by rooting out divisive policies. Cloud’s call to action urged Congress to support the bill as a commitment to the principles of equality, merit, and justice.

“This is not progress,” Cloud said in his remarks. “This is a dangerous detour that risks erasing the strides we’ve made toward a more perfect union.”

As the Dismantle DEI Act advances, it represents a broader conservative effort to reject identity politics and reaffirm foundational American values.

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