America is at a crossroads, facing two divergent paths. One path leads to a future where merit, hard work, and personal quality open the door to success, creating unity and opportunity for all. The other path, driven by a misguided “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) agenda, leads to a society of division, resentment, and less trust, where race, gender, and sexual orientation take precedence over quality and merit.
The choice is clear to most Americans, and it is time for Congress to follow suit and take a stand in support of it.
DEI is not as noble a purpose as it claims to be. DEI practices inherently reinforce a system in which identity characteristics are valued over individual capabilities and achievements. This approach undermines a fundamental American principle that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed based on their hard work and qualifications. Instead, DEI policies create an environment of division and resentment, where people are judged not by their skills and contributions, but by characteristics they have no control over.
The impact of DEI within our government is phenomenal. From NASA and the National Science Foundation Federal agencies, from the Internal Revenue Service to the U.S. Army, are required to undergo diversity training: These workshops train tax collectors on “cultural inclusion,” military commanders on so-called “male pregnancy,” and nuclear engineers on “male pregnancy.” “The Roots of White Male Culture” The same training even instructed engineers to write messages about their newfound insights to “white women” and “people of color”—a clear example of the condescending and divisive nature of DEI, which privileges some Americans over others because of immutable characteristics.
These divisive trainings, reminiscent of the Maoist struggle in 20th century China and designed to enforce ideological uniformity through public humiliation and coercion, are one DEI problem that must be eradicated from government agencies, but there are others that are just as concerning. For example, in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that some states will Rationing Alternative Treatments for COVID-19 Based on race. This policy, driven by the DEI mandate, puts lives at risk by prioritizing racial considerations over medical necessity.
It was reported that the Department of Defense allocated $2 million for DEI programs in schools for the children of military personnel in 2022. These funds could have been used to improve educational resources, but were instead diverted to promote a divisive agenda against the children of military personnel.
This misuse of taxpayer money is not only an affront to fiscal responsibility, it also institutionalizes discriminatory practices within our government. In 2023 alone, the Biden administration will $16 million for diversity training For Government Employees An additional $83 million for DEI programs and the State Department’s Office of Personnel Management’s Office of DEI and Accessibility. $9.2 million These figures highlight the significant financial burden DEI places on taxpayers and exacerbates social divisions.
To combat this, Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and I Repeal of DEI laws This bill would end these practices by imposing a total ban on DEI-related activities within the federal government; it would stop funding DEI trainings, offices and programs; and it would comb through the U.S. Code to remove legal sanction for these divisive efforts, ensuring that these practices are not only curtailed but completely eradicated from the federal government and federally mandated institutions.
While DEI initiatives are often presented as efforts to promote equity, in reality they have fostered an environment where people are judged by their demographic identifiers rather than by their merits. This is fundamentally at odds with the principles of equality and fairness that should be the foundation of our government agencies. By dismantling our DEI program, we are reaffirming our commitment to a system in which individuals are evaluated based on their qualifications and capabilities, not their race, gender, or sexual orientation.
It is time for Congress to take decisive action to repeal DEI programs and restore a system based on merit and equality. Together, we are sending a message to the American people: opportunity for all, not just a select few. The DEI Repeal Act is a necessary step to restore common sense, fairness, and the understanding that all people are equal in our federal government.
Representative Rep. Michael Cloud represents Texas' 27th Congressional District and serves on the House Appropriations Committee, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, and the House Select Committee on COVID-19.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
As an independent, nonpartisan news service, all content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher with a large readership. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and affiliation with the DCNF. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
