Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt recently posted a series of tweets on September 25, 2025, expressing concerns about the hiring of foreign workers for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) positions in the United States. Schmitt questioned the appropriateness of such hires and their alignment with existing visa regulations.

In one tweet, Schmitt stated, "More to the point, in light of everything we know about DEI, it's alarming that American employers appear to be importing foreign workers to work in these roles — placing non-Americans in positions where they are tasked with policing the speech and thought of our own citizens." He raised concerns over non-citizens being employed in roles that influence workplace culture and communication standards.

Highlighting specific sectors employing DEI professionals through visa programs, Schmitt wrote on September 25, 2025: "Examples range from large banks and law firms to universities, healthcare systems, and even municipal park districts. Obviously, DEI positions are plainly non-technical and ideological in nature, and appear to fall outside the “specialty occupation” intent of the H-1B statute."

Citing examples from higher education institutions, Schmitt noted: "Carnegie Mellon University filed a H-1B LCA for the position of 'Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, Climate & Equity' in 2021. Trustees of Dartmouth College filed for a job called 'Program Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion' in 2023. That's just a few—the list goes on."

The H-1B visa program is intended for specialty occupations that require specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent. The U.S. Department of Labor outlines that these roles should generally involve fields like engineering or computer science. Senator Schmitt's comments reflect ongoing debates regarding whether certain administrative or ideological positions qualify as "specialty occupations" under this program.

DEI initiatives have become increasingly common across American institutions since the early 2000s. These programs aim to promote diversity within organizations but have also faced criticism from some lawmakers who question their effectiveness or scope.