Freedom from Ideological Requirements in Employment Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8379 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8379

  To prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion in Federal hiring and 
                  employment, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 20, 2026

  Ms. Letlow introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
  To prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion in Federal hiring and 
                  employment, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom from Ideological 
Requirements in Employment Act'' or the ``FIRE Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN FEDERAL 
              HIRING AND EMPLOYMENT.

    (a) In General.--No Federal funds may be obligated or expended to--
            (1) require, as a condition for appointment to, or 
        continued employment in, the civil service (as that term is 
        defined in section 2101 of title 5, United States Code)--
                    (A) diversity, equity, and inclusion training; or
                    (B) any individual to sign, endorse, or otherwise 
                accent statements that are centered on diversity, 
                equity, and inclusion principles; or
            (2) develop, implement, distribute, plan, or purchase 
        training courses for the Federal workforce that relates to--
                    (A) diversity, equity, and inclusion;
                    (B) critical theory relating to race and gender;
                    (C) intersectionality, sexual orientation, or 
                gender identity; or
                    (D) the assertion that a particular race, color, 
                ethnicity, religion, biological sex, or national origin 
                is inherently or systemically superior, inferior, 
                oppressive, oppressed, privileged, or unprivileged.
    (b) Application.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
apply to commonly accepted and customarily used hiring or employment 
practices that prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
    (c) Definition of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.--In this 
section, the term ``diversity, equity, and inclusion'' means any 
practice, training, statement, or principle that asserts--
            (1) a particular race, color, ethnicity, religion, 
        biological sex, or national origin is inherently or 
        systemically superior or inferior, oppressive or oppressed, or 
        privileged or unprivileged; or
            (2) how systemic racism is embedded in legal systems, 
        policies, and societal structures rather than being solely a 
        product of individual prejudice.
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