Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the U.S. Senate representing Missouri, posted a series of statements on July 23, 2025, addressing his stance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and civil rights laws in the United States.

In his first post at 19:11 UTC, Schmitt announced his participation in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing by stating, " Heading to @SenJudiciaryGOP to chair a hearing on dismantling the DEI regime. For too long our civil rights laws have been used to promote discrimination rather than protect equal rights—it's time we put an end to this abuse."

Later that day at 19:32 UTC, Schmitt expanded on his views regarding civil rights legislation and its impact on American society. He wrote, "America's civil rights regime has been used to engineer a radical new social order—built upon the deliberate dispossession of huge swaths of our country. They didn't end discrimination. They built a new racial caste system. It's time to dismantle that system."

At 20:32 UTC, Schmitt further criticized DEI initiatives by asserting, "DEI isn't about 'equity.' It's about retribution. They don't want to 'level the playing field.' They want to elevate members of certain groups over members of other groups—and to remake America in their image."

Schmitt’s remarks come amid ongoing national debates over DEI programs in public institutions and private organizations. The senator’s comments reflect broader discussions about whether such policies address historic inequalities or create new forms of division within American society.