# What This Bill Does

This bill would cut off federal funding to graduate medical schools if they maintain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs or policies. Specifically, medical schools would lose access to federal financial aid, student loans, and other federal money unless they certify they won't do five things: require students or staff to adopt certain statements about race and systemic issues, treat students differently based on race or ethnicity, mandate courses teaching specific ideas about race, maintain a DEI office, or require diversity statements from job or admission applicants.

The bill targets specific ideas it prohibits schools from promoting or requiring people to adopt. These include statements that people are inherently oppressors or oppressed based on their race, that individuals should be treated differently because of their race or ethnicity, that people bear responsibility for historical actions of their racial or ethnic group, or that America is systemically racist. Medical schools would also be prohibited from creating separate programs or benefits based solely on race or ethnicity, and accrediting agencies that oversee medical schools would face their own restrictions if they try to enforce DEI requirements on schools.

The bill includes some exceptions. Medical schools could still teach about medical conditions that may affect different groups differently, collect demographic data for informational purposes, and follow federal anti-discrimination laws. Religious medical schools wouldn't be forced to act against their religious beliefs. The bill also says it doesn't restrict free speech, academic research, student organizations, guest speakers, or a school's ability to comply with existing civil rights laws.

The practical effect would be significant: any graduate medical school receiving federal money would need to eliminate or substantially restructure existing DEI initiatives, diversity hiring practices, and related programs, or lose federal funding that supports student loans and other educational assistance.

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit graduate medical schools from receiving Federal financial assistance if such schools adopt certain policies and requirements relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.