Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Congressman Ralph Norman (R-SC) introduced legislation to prohibit federal agencies from using Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) requirements or ideological tests when awarding taxpayer-funded research grants.

The Merit Restoration Act would apply to all federal research agencies, ensuring grants are awarded based on scientific merit, quality of research, and public benefit, not political activism or identity-based standards.

After years of ideologically awarded funding under the Biden administration, Congressman Norman’s bill would prohibit agencies from considering DEI statements, mandatory diversity requirements, or ideological criteria when evaluating grant applications or continuing federal funding.

“Taxpayer-funded research should be awarded based on merit, innovation, and results, not DEI-driven activist handouts,” said Congressman Ralph Norman. “Americans are tired of watching universities prioritize ideological checkboxes over achievement. Federal research dollars should support the strongest proposals and the best science, whether in medicine, engineering, or scientific innovation, not political agendas. That’s what taxpayers expect and deserve.”

The bill follows growing concerns over federal grant programs that prioritize DEI and identity-based criteria over merit. In one example, the Biden administration’s National Institute of Health (NIH) funded a National Cancer Institute program that stated “fostering diversity by addressing underrepresentation in the scientific research workforce is a key component of the NIH strategy” and prioritized participation based on racial and ethnic classifications identified as “underrepresented.” Similarly, the National Science Foundation (NSF) supported an academic conference travel award program that stated “students from underrepresented groups will be given priority.”

Congressman Ralph Norman’s legislation would prohibit federal agencies from using taxpayer dollars to impose or incentivize these types of ideological or identity-based requirements in scientific research funding.

Read the bill HERE.