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This bill would block federal money from going to colleges and universities that run diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, programs. To keep receiving federal aid, including student loan funding, a school would have to say that it does not and will not run any DEI-related program, project, or activity, and that it does not and will not keep any office or unit that promotes DEI. The bill also gives the Education Secretary power to write rules, check whether schools are telling the truth, and cut off funding if a school does not comply. Schools could appeal a funding cutoff, but the bill sets short deadlines for that process.
- Schools would have to certify that they do not support DEI in their programs or offices in order to get federal assistance.
- The ban would apply broadly to federal education funding, including participation in federally funded or guaranteed student loan programs.
- If the Education Secretary decides to end a school’s federal aid, the school could appeal to an administrative law judge within 30 days.
- The bill defines DEI as treating people differently or giving preferences based on race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Official Summaries
Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act
This bill prohibits an institution of higher education (IHE) from receiving federal funds or participating in federal student aid programs if the IHE carries out diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to certify to the Department of Education (ED) that the IHE (1) does not and will not carry out any program, project, initiative, or other activity that advocates, promotes, or otherwise supports DEI; and (2) does not and will not maintain any office or other entity within the IHE that advocates, promotes, or otherwise supports DEI.
Each IHE that provides the certification must, upon request, make available to ED any information necessary to verify the accuracy of the certification.
ED must publish regulations to implement and enforce the bill's provisions.
The bill establishes a process through which an IHE may appeal ED's decision to terminate the IHE's financial assistance for failure to comply with the bill's provisions.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1282 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1282
To prohibit Federal funding for institutions of higher education that
carry out diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 13, 2025
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself and Mr. Baird) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit Federal funding for institutions of higher education that
carry out diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDING FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION THAT CARRY OUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
INITIATIVES.
Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 124. PROHIBITION ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
INITIATIVES.
``(a) Restriction on Eligibility.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, no institution of higher education shall be eligible
to receive funds or any other form of financial assistance under any
Federal program, including participation in any federally funded or
guaranteed student loan program, unless the institution certifies to
the Secretary that the institution--
``(1) does not and will not carry out any program, project,
initiative, or other activity the primary purpose of which is
to advocate, promote, or otherwise support diversity, equity,
and inclusion; and
``(2) does not and will not maintain any office or other
entity within the institution to advocate, promote, or
otherwise support diversity, equity, and inclusion.
``(b) Information Availability.--Each institution of higher
education that provides the certification required by subsection (a)
shall, upon request, make available to the Secretary any information
needed by the Secretary to verify the truth and accuracy of the
certification.
``(c) Regulations.--The Secretary shall publish regulations to
implement and enforce the provisions of this section.
``(d) Appeals.--Upon determination by the Secretary to terminate
financial assistance to any institution of higher education under this
section, the institution may file an appeal with an administrative law
judge before the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date
such institution is notified of the decision to terminate financial
assistance under this section. Such judge shall hold a hearing with
respect to such termination of assistance before the expiration of the
45-day period beginning on the date that such appeal is filed. Such
judge may extend such 45-day period upon a motion by the institution
concerned. The decision of the judge with respect to such termination
shall be considered to be a final agency action.
``(e) Definition.--In this section, the term `diversity, equity,
and inclusion' means the concept according to which individuals are--
``(1) classified on basis of race, color, sex, national
origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation; and
``(2) afforded differential or preferential treatment basis
of such classification.''.
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