Duval Times

Senators Rick Scott and Eric Schmitt have introduced the Dismantle DEI Act, a legislative effort aimed at codifying former President Trump's executive actions to terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This act seeks to prevent future administrations from reinstating policies similar to those of the Biden era.

Senator Rick Scott expressed his support for the initiative by stating, "Democrats spent the past four years pushing policies that prioritized radical far-left ideology over merit-based policies throughout our federal government. That’s not what the American people want, and they sure as heck don’t want to be left footing the bill for a woke agenda they don’t believe in."

Senator Eric Schmitt also voiced his concerns about DEI initiatives: "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. America is the greatest meritocracy the world has ever seen, and no taxpayer dollars should be wasted on funding this divisive ideology which undercuts the values our country was founded on."

The Dismantle DEI Act builds upon Executive Order 14151 signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025. The order aims to end DEI programs across federal departments and agencies while identifying associated contractors and grantees. The proposed legislation would ensure that all DEI offices are terminated without being repurposed under new titles. It also prohibits federal funds from supporting DEI training or programs and grants individuals legal rights to challenge violations in court.

Several senators have joined Scott and Schmitt in introducing this legislation, including Senators Cotton, Lankford, Daines, Tuberville, Blackburn, Marshall, Lummis, Cassidy, Risch, Cramer, Banks, Sheehy, Hyde-Smith, Lee, Crapo, Johnson, Budd, and Hawley.