Dismantling Ideological Policies for Semiconductors and Science Act
Dismantling Ideological Policies for Semiconductors and Science Act seeks to repeal a broad set of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements embedded in the CHIPS Act of 2022 and related science and education laws. It also aims to curb federal mandates that are not statutory, restricting agencies from imposing certain nonstatutory policies as conditions for receiving federal funds. In practice, the bill would roll back DEI offices, reporting, data collection, and targeted programs in STEM funding and education, while shifting NSF scholarships and fellowships toward more traditional, domestic workforce-focused criteria. The overarching message in the bill’s text is that DEI-oriented provisions are discriminatory and should be removed to restore what its sponsors describe as the “original intention” of CHIPS and related laws. The bill includes a formal “Sense of Congress” statement arguing that DEI efforts slow progress and should be repealed or modified, and it makes extensive amendments to tiered programs across multiple laws. If enacted, it could meaningfully reduce the federal emphasis on DEI in STEM funding, reshape how scholarships and fellowships are awarded, and limit the stringency of federal funding requirements on recipients. It would also rename and reorganize some program designations and remove several reporting and accountability mechanisms tied to DEI and demographic data.
Key Points
- 1Broad repeal of DEI and inclusion-related provisions across the CHIPS Act and the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, including removal of the NSF Chief Diversity Officer and multiple DEI-focused programs, reporting, and data collection requirements.
- 2Major reworking of NSF scholarships and fellowships: allows direct awards to students and to colleges or consortia, emphasizes addressing workforce gaps and prioritizing U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, and expands support for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs) while reducing emphasis on diversity-based language.
- 3Repeal and reorganization of programs that previously supported DEI in higher education, STEM outreach, and diversity-focused research capacity; removal of several reports, best practices, and data collection efforts related to demographics and DEI in STEM.
- 4Renaming and restructuring of programs to remove “MSI” (minority-serving institutions) terminology and emphasize HBCUs and TCUs, including changes to coordination and reporting language.
- 5Title II limits on nonstatutory federal mandates: prohibits agencies from imposing as a condition of federal funding any policies related to DEI hiring/training, childcare, wraparound workforce services, community investments, climate/environmental justice, project labor agreements, and consultation with local labor organizations, among others.