Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt Criticizes DEI Policies and Federal Aid Criteria in Recent Social Media Posts

Senator Eric Schmitt used his social media account on July 22, 2025, to voice criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education and federal aid programs. In a series of posts, Schmitt addressed the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision banning race-based admissions and expressed concerns about what he views as continued preferential policies.

In one post, Schmitt wrote: "In the universities, DEI has meant the abolition of merit. Even after the Supreme Court banned race-based admissions in 2023, elite schools like Harvard and Stanford just rebranded their quotas, embedding them in essay prompts and hiring policies rather than ending them outright." (July 22, 2025)

He continued by emphasizing his interpretation of civil rights laws: "Let's be clear: If we're going to have civil rights laws, the ONLY just and legitimate interpretation is what their text plainly demands—equal treatment for ALL AMERICANS under the law.

No racial preferences. No double standards. No legal fictions like 'disparate impact.'" (July 22, 2025)

Schmitt also criticized recent federal government practices regarding financial assistance during the Biden Administration. He stated: "Under the Biden Administration, farmers in the Midwest were told they couldn’t get debt relief, restaurants were deemed ineligible for federal grants, and small business owners were barred from lucrative federal contracts, all for the crime of being too male or too white." (July 22, 2025)

The context for these statements includes ongoing national debates about affirmative action following the Supreme Court's ruling against race-based admissions policies at colleges and universities in June 2023. The decision led institutions such as Harvard and Stanford to reconsider their admissions procedures while facing scrutiny over how they interpret compliance with anti-discrimination laws.

Federal relief programs under recent administrations have faced lawsuits alleging that some eligibility criteria unlawfully excluded applicants based on race or gender. These cases contributed to increased discussion about equal protection principles under U.S. law.