House Votes 215-200, Crucial Amendment BLOCKED!

Seventy-six House Republicans shocked conservatives by voting with Democrats to block an amendment defunding DEI programs and gender-affirming care for minors in a massive spending package.

Story Snapshot

76 GOP members joined Democrats to kill amendment targeting DEI, “child mutilation,” and wasteful spending in H.R. 7148.
Trump’s early 2025 executive orders aggressively targeted federal DEI, but Congress holds the purse strings.
Moderate Republicans prioritized avoiding shutdowns over full defunding, fracturing party unity.
Ongoing lawsuits and funding pauses create uncertainty for universities and K-12 programs.
Corporate America retreats from DEI, with S&P 500 exec pay metrics dropping 30%.

Amendment Fails in House Vote

House Republicans split during deliberations on H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY2026. An amendment sought to cut funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, gender-affirming care for minors—labeled “child mutilation” in conservative critiques—and other items. It failed when 76 Republicans voted with Democrats to block it. This tally, though unverified beyond initial reports, highlights tensions in late 2025 appropriations debates. Shutdown risks loomed large.

Trump Administration Launches Anti-DEI Offensive

President Trump issued Executive Order 14151 on January 20, 2025, mandating elimination of federal DEI offices, equity plans, and related funding. EO 14173 followed on January 21, targeting private-sector DEI and contractors. OMB Memorandum M-25-13 paused DEI-tied grants and loans effective January 28. A separate EO halted military DEI programs. FY2026 budget proposals slashed items like $70 million in Teacher Quality Partnerships. These moves reversed Biden-era expansions.

Stakeholders Clash Over Funding Power

Trump administration enforces policies viewing DEI as wasteful and discriminatory, pushing meritocracy. Moderate GOP lawmakers balance fiscal conservatism against shutdown threats and constituent backlash. Democrats, led by figures like Rep. Scanlon, submit amendments protecting equity programs and countering EO 14151. Universities such as Harvard face funding freezes and lawsuits, challenging pauses as APA and First Amendment violations. House Appropriations Committee wields key influence. GOP divides pit fiscal hawks against moderates.

Ongoing Litigation and Corporate Shifts

Courts issue mixed rulings, including a Harvard injunction on September 3, 2025, and California suits blocking grant cuts. State Department proposes suspending 38 universities from programs over DEI compliance. NSF defers rules to FY2026. S&P 500 firms reduce DEI-linked executive pay by 30% as of November 2025. White House clarifies OMB pauses target DEI specifically. Administration concedes some K-12 DEI removal defeats. Funding pauses continue pending agency reports by February 10, 2025.

Impacts Ripple Across Sectors

Short-term uncertainty halts DEI grants, delaying university research and K-12 equity funds. Long-term shifts favor merit-based systems, reducing DEI training and hiring. Economic effects pause projects; social debates pit meritocracy against equity. Politically, GOP fractures expose vulnerabilities amid court losses. Higher education faces threats and compact rejections; K-12 undergoes anti-DEI changes; private sector navigates EO pressures. Affected communities include educators and minorities reliant on these programs.

Expert Views on DEI Rollback

Gibson Dunn reports mixed legal wins, with Title VI clarifications limiting to intentional discrimination. Pillsbury Law warns EOs risk litigation by broadly targeting federal and private DEI. Financial Times notes corporate DEI pay drop signaling retreat. K12 Dive describes a “sea change” in K-12 via cuts. Conservatives decry DEI as radical waste; critics claim pauses violate law. Law firms offer balanced analysis confirming amendment context and EO timelines. Facts align with common-sense fiscal restraint over unchecked equity mandates.