Sponsors (6)
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Repeals and narrows many diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions across CHIPS Act / Research & Development / DOE / NSF authorities and restricts executive-branch agencies from imposing nonstatutory policy conditions on entities seeking federal funds. It removes DEI language and certain DEI-related offices, studies, reporting, prizes, and program requirements; narrows eligibility/outreach language in some programs to HBCUs/TCUs or to citizens and lawful permanent residents; and leaves funding levels unchanged. It also bars agencies from requiring a range of nonstatutory policies as a condition of federal funding, including DEI mandates tied to Executive Order 14035, workforce diversity plans, childcare/wraparound services, community investment plans, environmental/climate mitigation planning, project labor agreement requirements, and mandatory consultation with labor organizations. The bill is structural — changing statutes and administrative authority rather than creating new appropriations.
The bill trades increased speed, predictability, and lower compliance burdens to rapidly expand a domestic STEM workforce and prioritize direct funding for trainees against reduced DEI-related supports, transparency, environmental and labor protections, and community-oriented conditions that help broaden and sustain an inclusive, resilient workforce.
STEM students and trainees (particularly U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents) would receive more direct scholarships/fellowships and programs focused on rapidly filling domestic STEM workforce gaps.
Recipients of federal awards (state and local governments, small businesses, universities) would face fewer new agency-imposed conditions, lower compliance burdens, and greater protection from post-award agency policy changes, improving budgeting predictability for long-term projects.
Clarifying federal priorities (e.g., defining 'STEM') could simplify program implementation and reduce administrative ambiguity for grant-making agencies and recipients.
Students from underrepresented racial, ethnic, gender, sexual-orientation, and low-income groups would likely lose targeted DEI recruitment, mentoring, and non-financial supports that improve access and retention in STEM, reducing pipeline diversity.
Removing agency ability to require childcare, wraparound supports, or community investment plans could reduce access to worker supports and coordinated local investments (housing, transportation) that help workforce participation, disproportionately harming working parents and low-income communities.
Limiting agencies' authority to require environmental impact minimization or climate and environmental-justice mitigation could weaken protections for communities (often low-income or marginalized) near federally funded projects.
Introduced May 13, 2025 by Thomas Bryant Cotton · Last progress May 13, 2025