Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the United States Senate representing Missouri, posted a series of statements on July 22, 2025, addressing his concerns about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in American institutions. In his posts, Schmitt announced plans to lead a hearing focused on what he described as the need to "forcibly dismantle the DEI regime."

In a tweet dated July 22, 2025, Schmitt stated: "Tomorrow, I'm leading a hearing on how we can forcibly dismantle the DEI regime. For too long, our civil rights bureaucracy has aided and abetted discrimination. It's time for lawbreakers to pay the price. I'll be calling @HarmeetKDhillon and @GeneHamiltonUSA to testify."

He continued in another post from the same day: "And finally, it's not about 'inclusion.' It's about exclusion—of the competent, the qualified, the meritorious—when those people are members of the 'wrong' race or sex. Over the past few decades, this poisonous and brazenly illegal doctrine has transformed our institutions."

In a third tweet also published on July 22, 2025, Schmitt wrote: "It's not about 'diversity.' It's about discrimination—a sustained campaign of collective punishment, wrapped in the rhetoric of social justice. It's not about 'equity.' It's about power. They don't want to 'level the playing field'—they want to elevate some groups over others."

The upcoming hearing referenced by Senator Schmitt is expected to include testimony from Harmeet K. Dhillon and Gene Hamilton. The senator's remarks reflect ongoing national debates over DEI initiatives in public and private sectors across the United States.

Over recent years, discussions around DEI have intensified following changes in federal guidance and high-profile court rulings regarding affirmative action and workplace diversity programs.