A new bill filed Friday morning in the North Carolina General Assembly takes aim at eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in all state and local government affairs.
House Bill 171 proposes a ban on the promotion, funding, and implementation of DEI programs within state agencies, including in hiring practices, training programs, and the establishment of DEI offices.
Sponsored by Reps. Brenden Jones, R-Columbus, Neal Jackson, R-Moore, Jarrod Lowery, R-Robeson, and Blair Eddins, R-Wilkes, leaders of the effort argue that taxpayers deserve to know their dollars are funding a government that operates on fairness and equal opportunity, rather than ideological mandates at the expense of efficiency and public trust.
“House Bill 171 is about eliminating the divisive and ineffective DEI bureaucracy in state and local government,” Jones told the Carolina Journal. “These programs have injected politics into hiring, promotions, and contracting, prioritizing ideology over qualifications and competence. Government jobs and opportunities should be awarded based on merit, not forced quotas or political mandates.”
The bill prohibits the use of state funds or public monies for DEI initiatives and bars state agencies and local governments from accepting federal funds that require compliance with DEI policies.
If passed, violations of the proposed law could result in civil penalties, removal from office, or even criminal charges.
While DEI supporters stress the importance of accessibility and inclusivity for all, opponents like Jones raise concerns about undermining merit-based hiring and using taxpayer dollars for programs that divide rather than unite people.
“For too long, DEI policies have undermined fairness and efficiency in North Carolina’s state and local government, prioritizing political agendas over merit and qualifications,” Jones added. “House Bill 171 puts an end to these divisive programs and ensures that hiring, promotions, and contracts are based on individual achievement—not identity-based quotas.”
The legislation comes days after a Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) board meeting revealed deepening divisions over DEI policies, with heated exchanges between supporters and critics. The largest school district in North Carolina, WCPSS has not dismanted its Office of Equity Affairs, prompting some North Carolinians to warn of potential federal funding cuts that could impact the district. Seven of the nine board members are Democrats who have allowed the district’s DEI policies to remain intact.
Parents called for dismantling the Office of Equity Affairs and DEI programs, warning that failure to comply by the Trump administration’s February 28 deadline could result in Moms for Liberty escalating the issue, potentially threatening the district’s federal funding.
SEE ALSO: DEI tug-of-war in Wake County Schools stirs tensions among board, parents