Rep. Bilirakis Introduces Bill to Strip Federal Funding From Colleges With DEI Programs
This bill is currently sitting in the House Committee on Education and Workforce where it must be reviewed before it can move forward. No action has been taken on this proposal since February 2025. Because it has not moved for over 16 months, the bill is considered stalled.
While this bill aligns with House Republican priorities, it faces a very difficult path in the Senate where it would need significant bipartisan support to pass.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 8708 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 8708 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
If enacted, this bill could disrupt access to higher education for millions of students. Schools that refuse to shut down DEI programs would lose all federal funding, including the ability to accept federal student loans. Since roughly 70% of college students receive some form of federal financial aid, students at non-complying schools could suddenly find themselves unable to use Pell Grants or federal loans to pay for school.
“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”
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
A federal judge recently overturned the U.S. Department of Education's guidance that effectively banned DEI programs at colleges. The ruling prevents the government from enforcing the February 2025 'Dear Colleague' letter that threatened to rescind federal funding. Despite the legal victory for DEI advocates, many universities had already dismantled their offices to comply with the initial federal pressure.
Representatives Gus Bilirakis and Laurel Lee introduced the Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act, seeking to nationalize Florida's ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The legislation would prohibit federal funding for any school sponsoring DEI events or maintaining DEI offices, impacting both public and private universities that rely on federal grants and student aid.
The U.S. Department of Education conceded the end of its February 2025 directive that sought to restrict DEI efforts in schools. A district court issued a final ruling permanently invalidating the directive, which had required schools to certify they were not engaging in 'unlawful DEI' to maintain federal funding. The court found the directive was likely vague and viewpoint discriminatory.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Eliminate DEI in Colleges Act
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