South Carolina Representative Ralph Norman is pressing to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements from federal science agencies, arguing that taxpayer‑funded research should be awarded strictly on merit. His effort comes as the Trump administration continues its broader rollback of DEI‑related policies across federal departments.
Norman said the federal government spent years tying scientific grants to diversity benchmarks rather than research quality. In his view, “Taxpayer-funded research should be awarded based on merit, innovation, and results, not DEI-driven activist handouts.” He added that “Americans are tired of watching universities prioritize ideological checkboxes over achievement.”
The Merit Restoration Act, introduced this week, would prohibit the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health from using diversity mandates or DEI‑based criteria when awarding or renewing research grants. One section of the bill states that federal agencies “may not use any prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice in awarding, evaluating, or continuing a Federal research grant.”
Norman’s office pointed to archived NSF materials showing that the agency previously prioritized increasing participation among “underrepresented groups” in science and engineering fields. That focus appeared in programs such as Broadening Participation in Engineering, which defined underrepresented races as Black, Hispanic, American Indian, and Pacific Islander. Other NSF grants offered travel support to academic conferences that gave “priority” to applicants from those groups.
NIH programs reflected similar priorities. One research‑education initiative encouraged “individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research.” NIH also maintained an official statement on its “interest in diversity,” encouraging institutions to diversify student and faculty populations. That page has since been removed as the Trump administration moves to eliminate DEI‑focused funding.
The administration has also faced litigation over its decision to terminate more than 1,000 grants tied to DEI or gender‑identity initiatives. A settlement reached in December 2025 required the government to review affected grants individually, though many of the projects remain sealed, leaving unclear which programs were involved.
Norman said the purpose of his bill is to ensure that DEI‑based requirements do not return in future administrations. One passage in his statement reads, “Federal research dollars should support the strongest proposals and the best science, whether in medicine, engineering, or scientific innovation, not political agendas.”
