- Beshear vetoes anti-DEI legislation, labeling it ‘about hate’
- Bill mandates defunding DEI offices and training in Kentucky public colleges
- GOP supermajority likely to override veto during late March session
- Federal probes target DEI policies at 50+ universities nationwide
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear struck a defiant tone Thursday by vetoing House Bill 4, a Republican-led measure to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in state-funded higher education institutions. The governor framed his decision as both moral and practical, stating: ‘Diversity isn’t weakness – it’s the foundation of innovation. When we exclude voices, we limit our potential.’
The legislation would compel Kentucky’s 8 public universities and 16 community/technical colleges to dissolve DEI offices by June 2025. Institutions failing to comply risk losing state funding. Notably, the bill prohibits mandatory DEI training for students/staff – a provision critics argue could weaken sexual harassment prevention programs.
Higher education analysts note parallels with Texas’ 2023 DEI ban, which resulted in 1,200+ staff layoffs and a 17% decline in underrepresented student applications at UT Austin. ‘Colleges need DEI infrastructure to compete for federal grants and corporate partnerships,’ said Dr. Elena Martinez, a Louisville-based education policy researcher. ‘IBM and Microsoft now require supplier diversity metrics that include campus DEI benchmarks.’
The U.S. Department of Education currently investigates DEI-related admissions and scholarship practices at 53 institutions, including 4 in the South. While federal law prohibits racial quotas, the Biden administration maintains that targeted outreach to marginalized communities remains legal. This contrasts with former President Trump’s executive order banning ‘anti-American propaganda’ in government-funded diversity trainings.
Beshear’s veto faces near-certain override when Kentucky’s legislature reconvenes March 27-28. Republican leaders hold 80% of legislative seats, having overturned 28 of Beshear’s 34 previous vetoes. Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) called DEI programs ‘divisive concepts masquerading as academic standards’ in a Thursday statement.
University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto warned lawmakers that HB4 could jeopardize the school’s $150M NIH grant requiring diversity in medical research teams. Meanwhile, student organizers plan campus rallies on March 25, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Slavery.
