# Plain Language Summary: Advisory Committees Free of ESG Act of 2023

This bill would prevent the federal government from creating or maintaining advisory committees that focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Advisory committees are groups of experts and stakeholders that the government brings together to provide advice on specific topics. Under this bill, the government couldn't establish new committees dealing with climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental justice, diversity and inclusion in hiring or leadership, or social justice initiatives. The bill defines these terms very broadly—for example, "environmental" covers anything related to carbon dioxide, methane, and climate change, while "social" includes matters related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, and what the bill calls "critical race theory" or "social justice ideologies."

The bill would also require the immediate termination of any advisory committees that already exist and fall under these ESG categories. The Administrator of General Services (a federal official) would be responsible for identifying and shutting down these committees. Additionally, the bill allows any citizen to sue in federal court to force the termination of committees they believe violate this rule. If a court agrees that a committee violates the law, it must be terminated immediately.

In practical terms, this would eliminate government advisory committees focused on climate policy, environmental protection, workplace diversity initiatives, and related topics. Federal agencies would lose access to expert advice on these subjects through formal advisory channels. The bill could affect how the government addresses environmental regulations, workplace discrimination, and climate-related planning, since agencies would no longer be able to convene official advisory committees to help guide policy in these areas.

Advisory Committees Free of ESG Act of 2023

Advisory Committees Free of ESG Act of 2023 This bill prohibits the establishment of federal advisory committees on the basis of environmental, social, and governance aspects and provides for the termination of any existing advisory committees authorized or implemented on such basis. Additionally, the bill authorizes civil actions seeking a determination that an advisory committee was authorized, permitted, or implemented in violation of such provision. The court must order any such advisory committee to be terminated immediately upon such determination.