House Oversight Committee Republicans Pass Bill To Defund DEI Programs

Capitol Hill Pedestrians walk along the East Front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Capitol Hill in Washington

The House Oversight Committee Republicans have advanced a bill that aims to defund all federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, aligning with President-elect Donald Trump's agenda for his second term. The proposed legislation, known as the Dismantle DEI Act of 2024, seeks to halt funding to DEI initiatives, modify the 1964 Civil Rights Act, reverse executive orders issued by the Biden administration, and terminate existing DEI programs without reassigning affected employees.

Under the bill, workers from discontinued DEI programs would have the option to apply for other positions within the federal government. The Senate counterpart of the bill is championed by Vice President-elect JD Vance, indicating broad support for the initiative within the Republican party.