This bill eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives within the federal government, federal training, federal contracting, federal grants and cooperative agreements, federal advisory committees, and higher education accreditation standards.
Eric Schmitt
Senator
MO
**Title I:** This bill seeks to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government by revoking prior directives, terminating DEI offices, and restricting DEI-related training and activities. **Title II:** This bill restricts federal training programs from including topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and protects employees from mandatory training on these subjects. **Title III:** This bill modifies federal contracting practices by prohibiting the use of federal funds for DEI-related activities and ensuring non-discrimination in federal programs. **Title IV:** This bill restricts the use of federal grant and cooperative agreement funds for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives, while exempting certain offices and institutions. **Title V:** This bill aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices within federal advisory committees by outlining specific prohibitions, enforcement mechanisms, and responsibilities for agency administrators and heads to ensure compliance. **Title VI:** This bill addresses accreditation standards for higher education institutions and restricts the use of federal funds by the Secretary of Education related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. **Title VII:** This bill eliminates certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and related requirements across various federal agencies and acts. **Title VIII:** This bill focuses on the enforcement and legal standing of the Act, ensuring individuals have the right to seek justice if they believe the law has been violated, and clarifies that the law remains effective even if parts of it are deemed unconstitutional.
Dismantle DEI Act of 2025: Feds Nix Diversity Programs Across the Board, Starting Now
The Dismantle DEI Act of 2025 is a sweeping piece of legislation that essentially aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives from the federal government's playbook. This includes everything from federal agency operations and training programs to contracting, grants, advisory committees, and even how colleges get accredited. The bill, effective immediately, stops federal funds from being used for DEI-related activities and sets up a system where individuals can sue if they believe the Act has been violated.
Zeroing Out DEI
The core of this bill is about removing DEI from all corners of the federal government. For example, Title I shuts down DEI offices within federal agencies, like the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (ODEIA) within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). It also rescinds previous executive orders that supported DEI. This means agencies are no longer required to follow those directives. If you're a federal employee, this could mean the end of DEI training sessions and a shift in how your agency approaches hiring and promotion. A manager at a federal agency, for example, will no longer consider DEI metrics when evaluating team performance or making hiring decisions. (Title I, Sections 101-105).
Training Gets a Makeover
Title II focuses on federal training programs, banning the use of federal funds for training that covers topics like diversity, equity, inclusion, critical theory, or gender identity. It specifically prohibits training that suggests any group is inherently superior or inferior, oppressive or oppressed. If you work for a federal agency, any mandatory training on these topics will be eliminated. The goal here is to create a 'neutral' training environment, but it also means potentially losing out on education around cultural sensitivity and bias. (Title II, Sections 201-203).
Contracting and Grant Changes
Titles III and IV change the rules for federal contractors and grant recipients. Federal contracts over $10,000 can't require compliance with what the bill calls 'prohibited DEI practices'. (Title III Section 301). Plus, federal funds can't be used to support DEI offices or training. For a small business owner who relies on federal grants, this could mean re-evaluating any DEI initiatives they have in place if they hope to continue receiving federal funding. Similarly, organizations receiving federal grants can't use that money for DEI offices or training. However, the bill does clarify that recipients can use non-federal funds for DEI activities. (Title IV, Sections 401-404).
Ripple Effects
Beyond these direct changes, the bill impacts federal advisory committees (Title V), preventing them from implementing DEI practices, and even alters accreditation standards for colleges (Title VI), preventing accrediting agencies from forcing schools to adopt DEI programs. Title VII tidies up loose ends, repealing DEI-related provisions in various existing laws, including those impacting financial institutions, health services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security. For example, the Offices of Minority and Women Inclusion within financial institutions, established by the Dodd-Frank Act, are eliminated. (Title VII, Sections 701-709). Finally, Title VIII makes it clear that individuals can sue in federal court if they believe the Act has been violated, and if part of the law is struck down, the rest remains in effect. (Title VIII, Sections 801-803). This is a major shake-up, and how it plays out in practice remains to be seen, but it will have an immediate impact.