Sen. Joni Ernst Proposes Legislation to Cut DEI Funding from Defense Programs
Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) has put forward a new bill aimed at eliminating funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), particularly concerning “transgender apps,” within significant defense technology initiatives.
In a statement, Ernst expressed her concerns about the current direction of the SBIR-STTR program, stating: “The purpose of the SBIR-STTR program should be to support the development of crucial technologies for national security, not what I would call ‘awakened nonsense.’ Funding transgender apps instead of groundbreaking innovations is exactly why I am pushing back. It’s just not acceptable. My Innovate Act aims to remove DEI funding, safeguard American intellectual property from Chinese espionage, and prioritize essential improvements for our fighter jets.”
The SBIR and STTR programs are often seen as vital resources for American innovation. They offer grants to small businesses that are working on advanced technologies, supporting the U.S. military and national defense.
Recently, under the Biden administration, the grant application review process has allocated 10% of its weight to encourage grants that promote comprehensive and impartial research.
Among the grants that have sparked debate is one worth about $1.4 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is aimed at a mobile app designed to support the sexual health of young Black men engaging in sexual activities with other men. Another previous grant of nearly $225,000 was issued for a study focused on similar themes.
Another noteworthy grant of $1.6 million was awarded for research titled “Trans Women Connected,” focusing on mobile apps that offer sexual health promotion programs. This project had also received a previous grant of about $225,000 aimed at developing HIV prevention programs for trans women via mobile applications.
Moreover, a $283,526 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supported a project looking into the parenting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, highlighting the unique obstacles they encounter compared to their heterosexual counterparts.
Additionally, a further grant of $406,092 focused on mental health disparities, noting that Black Americans often experience worse psychological distress compared to their white peers.
The funding for the SBIR-STTR program is set to expire on September 30, requiring legislative action for re-approval.
Ernst has called for the Innovation Act, aiming to reform the SBIR-STTR program by excluding DEI considerations. She argues that the focus should instead be on supporting small to medium-sized businesses in the U.S. While efforts have been made to advance this legislation in the Senate, they have faced roadblocks, particularly from Democratic senators who favor extending funding linked to DEI priorities.
