A federal bill introduced in May would strip funding from medical schools that require students or faculty to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideologies. The EDUCATE Act bars federal dollars—including student loans—from schools and accreditors pushing political or ideological compliance on race, sex, or religion.
Backed by Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), the bill aims to restore merit-based education and protect free speech. Kennedy denounced DEI as “anti-American ideology,” while Murphy said ideological mandates “debase” medicine’s integrity.
Conservative medical group Do No Harm praised the bill as a way to return focus to science and patient care. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons also voiced support, calling DEI an ideological distraction.
Major medical organizations oppose the legislation. The Association of American Medical Colleges defends DEI as vital for training doctors to serve diverse patients. The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association insists such training is essential to fight healthcare disparities.
The bill faces legal hurdles, including concerns over academic freedom and religious liberty. It awaits review by the House Education and Workforce Committee, marking a new front in the broader national debate over DEI and federal oversight in higher education.
