Contact Congress about H.R. 5474: No DEI in DC Act
Congress would ban the D.C. government from funding or running most diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, offices, and trainings. It shuts down over a dozen existing community-focused offices and commissions. Anyone can sue in federal court if the rules are broken, with penalties starting at $1,000 per violation per day.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
No DEI in DC Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Latest action on H.R. 5474: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects D.C. government employees and the communities that rely on the offices and programs it would shut down. Workers would no longer face DEI trainings or related requirements on the job, but communities that depended on targeted offices for services and representation would lose those resources. The bill also matters to anyone interested in how Congress uses its authority over D.C. to change local laws.
Why this matters: Right now, D.C. runs many offices and programs aimed at helping specific racial, ethnic, gender, and LGBTQ communities, and it uses equity language in budgeting, health, education, and other policy areas. This bill would end most of that work and prevent D.C. from restarting it under new names. How this changes real outcomes for different communities is uncertain and would depend on whether other services fill the gaps.
Key provisions in H.R. 5474
- D.C. cannot spend any money on what the bill calls "prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practices." That includes certain trainings, public statements, and employment conditions tied to race, sex, or similar traits.
- D.C. cannot develop, buy, or require government employee trainings about DEI, critical race theory, critical gender theory, intersectionality, sexual orientation, or gender identity — if those trainings fall under the bill's definitions.
- Employees and job applicants cannot be punished, demoted, or fired for refusing to attend DEI-related trainings or declining to sign related statements or plans.
- The bill repeals the Racial Equity Achieves Results (REACH) Act from 2020 and strips racial equity language from D.C. budgeting, performance measures, and tax revision rules.
- It repeals the laws that established offices and commissions for Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, LGBTQ, and African and African-American communities, the Commission for Women, and the Commission on Health Equity.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 5474
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 5474
- What is H.R. 5474?
- Congress would ban the D.C. government from funding or running most diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, offices, and trainings. It shuts down over a dozen existing community-focused offices and commissions. Anyone can sue in federal court if the rules are broken, with penalties starting at $1,000 per violation per day.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 5474?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 5474?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 5474 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
