DeSantis Signs Law Defunding DEI Programs at State Colleges

Florida governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed legislation that prohibits state-funded colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

In addition to defunding DEI projects, the law also bars public colleges from infusing critical race theory and related grievance politics ideologies into curricula for general education courses. Those classes “may not distort significant historical events or include a curriculum that teaches identity politics” stemming from “theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities,” according to the law.

“If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination,” DeSantis said at a press conference at New College of Florida in Sarasota. “And that has no place in our public institutions. This bill says the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida.”

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