Sponsors (3)
The bill aims to stop federal support for certain DEI activities and provides quicker, clearer enforcement for institutions—potentially saving taxpayer money and reducing perceived preferential programs—but at the cost of reduced supports and funding for marginalized and low-income students, increased institutional compliance burdens, and risks to campus expression and programming.
Colleges and universities gain a clearer federal standard and a short appeals path when funding is threatened, giving institutions more predictable administrative process and faster resolution.
Taxpayers may avoid funding programs the law defines as providing race- or gender-based preferential treatment, reducing federal expenditures viewed as preferential.
Some students could see modest reductions in tuition or administrative fees if institutions cut DEI offices and related administrative costs.
Low-income students, students generally, and colleges risk loss of federal funds (financial aid, institutional aid, and research funding) if institutions retain DEI programs, which can reduce access to higher education and academic resources.
Students from historically marginalized groups may lose targeted supports (mentoring, counseling, recruitment) if DEI offices are eliminated, worsening equity and retention outcomes.
Broad definitions of DEI and treating swift funding terminations as final agency actions create a risk of legal disputes and a chilling effect on campus speech, programming, and hiring decisions.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires colleges to certify they do not run DEI programs or offices to receive federal funds or participate in federal student aid programs.
Official title: To prohibit Federal funding for institutions of higher education that carry out diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 13, 2025 by Gus Bilirakis · Last progress February 13, 2025
Bars colleges and universities from receiving federal funds or allowing students to use federal student aid unless the institution certifies it does not and will not run programs or maintain offices whose primary purpose is to advocate, promote, or support "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) as defined by the bill. Requires institutions to provide information on request to the Department of Education to verify the certification, directs the Secretary to issue implementing regulations, and establishes a short administrative appeal process before an administrative law judge whose decision is treated as final agency action. The rule conditions federal higher education funding and participation in federal student loan programs on institutions’ formal certification that they do not engage in specified DEI activities, with regulatory and enforcement mechanisms and a tightly timed appeals process for covered institutions.