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S1745119th CongressWALLET

Dismantling Ideological Policies for Semiconductors and Science Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

Introduced

Summary

The bill rescinds many diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements tied to federal semiconductor and STEM programs. It also blocks agencies from attaching a wide range of nonstatutory mandates to federal grants, narrowing what recipients can be asked to provide or plan for.

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  • Students and colleges: Title I removes or scales back DEI programs across the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy, including the NSF Chief Diversity Officer, DEI research funding, outreach requirements, and faculty demographic collection. It restructures scholarships and fellowships to prioritize U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents while preserving and expanding support for historically Black colleges and universities and Tribal Colleges or Universities and for low-income and geographic diversity.
  • Grant-funded programs and STEM projects: The bill repeals the CHIPS Act’s opportunity and inclusion mandate, cancels certain DOE and Education outreach programs and competitions, and narrows participation and outreach rules for microelectronics and STEM workforce initiatives.
  • Recipients of federal funds and local communities: Title II prohibits agencies from imposing nonstatutory mandates that require DEI-focused workforce policies, childcare or wraparound services, community investment or climate and environmental justice planning, sustaining project labor agreements, or mandatory consultation with local labor organizations.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

NSF scholarships favor U.S. students

If enacted, the NSF Director could award scholarships and fellowships directly to students or to institutions. The NSF would be required to prioritize U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and to expand support for low‑income students and for historically Black and Tribal colleges. This would shift who gets priority for some federal STEM scholarships.

Cut energy research prizes and programs

If enacted, the bill would repeal multiple Department of Energy research and education collaboration authorities and end the Clean Energy Technology University Prize. It would also remove the Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes initiative and delete some DEI clauses for the energy foundation. Researchers, universities, and communities could lose program support, prizes, and statutory direction.

Ban on agency nonstatutory mandates

If enacted, agency heads would be barred from imposing any 'nonstatutory mandate' on entities seeking federal funding. The ban would cover many agency‑created requirements, including DEI policies, workforce diversity planning, childcare or wraparound service mandates, community investment plans, and climate or project labor agreement conditions. Funding applicants would face fewer agency‑imposed conditions, but agencies could not require services that sometimes supported households.

CHIPS and NIST inclusion changes

If enacted, the bill would repeal the CHIPS Act provision on opportunity and inclusion. It would also remove a NIST requirement for outreach to underrepresented communities and require encouragement of proposals led by or partnering with HBCUs and TCUs. These changes could reduce some targeted outreach while increasing named support for HBCUs and TCUs.

Roll back DEI in higher education

If enacted, the bill would repeal or remove many federal DEI authorities in higher education and STEM programs. It would end DEI research programs, remove DEI best‑practices language, stop a required review of award barriers, and delete authorization for some DEI activities. At the same time, it narrows some language and names HBCUs and TCUs in places, changing how programs prioritize applicants.

Fellowship outreach to all regions

If enacted, the Director would be required to do outreach to recruit Entrepreneurial Fellowship applicants from every region of the country. The change directs more outreach but does not add funding or change eligibility. It could raise awareness of fellowships for some small entrepreneurs and students.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cotton, Tom [R-AR]

AR • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

    MO • R

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 6/23/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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