Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill to block the use of public tax dollars to fund "ideological agendas" specifically Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives.
DeSantis spoke about refocusing Florida universities by staying away from political ideologies. DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266, which will "dismantle the DEI bureaucracy at Florida universities," according to Rep. Spencer Roach (R-North Fort Myers) who introduced the bill.
"In Florida, our higher education institutions will not be spending public dollars on “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” or other initiatives that promote an ideological agenda," DeSantis wrote in a May 15 Twitter post. "As practiced, DEI represents discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination — and this has no place in a public institution."
On Monday, DeSantis signed SB 266 into law, preventing state colleges and universities from using public funds for DEI programs, according to local Florida NBC News. DeSantis signed the law at the New College of Florida along with University Chancellor Ray Rodrigues.
“In reality, what this concept of DEI has been is an attempt to impose orthodoxy on the university. And not even necessarily in the classroom, but through the administrative apparatus of the university itself,” DeSantis said in the article. The bill outlines the prohibition of any state or federal funds being used for DEI-related campus activities or programs as well as stopping any funds from going toward "political or social activism." The bill also includes a reevaluation of core classes at state colleges and universities, which could lead to "removal" or "realignment" of certain politically motivated courses.
Florida NBC reported that United Faculty of Florida President and professor at Atlantic University Andrew Gothard criticized the bill, calling DeSantis' move "authoritarian." Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) called the law "destructive."
Texas Republican lawmakers have proposed a similar bill to eliminate state and federal funding of DEI programs and DEI-related hiring systems, according to Houston Daily. Sen. Brandon Creighton's (R-Conroe) SB 17 recently passed the Senate and seeks to "end DEI and promote true diversity in higher education." The bill affirms the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title VII, Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause at state-funded colleges and universities without affecting student organizations.
"The elevation of DEI offices, mandatory diversity statements, political litmus tests and diversity training have the opposite effect and only further divides," Creighton said in a press release on his website. "DEI programs have become a million-dollar industry at taxpayer-funded institutions–yet they have made no progress advancing or increasing diversity.”
While an advocate of diversity, Creighton said DEI programs and offices are the not the correct way to advance toward a diverse Texas. Instead, Creighton promotes a "merit-based approach."