Continuing to ensure that no funding supports diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Critical Race Theory, or abortion-related travel, consistent with Department of Defense policy.
Continue ensuring that no Defense funding supports diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, Critical Race Theory, or abortion-related travel.
Occurrences
Continuing to ensure that no funding supports diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, Critical Race Theory, or abortion-related travel, consistent with Department of Defense policy.
Evidence
The committee's homepage said on June 10, 2026 that it released the FY27 Defense bill, and on June 11, 2026 that the Defense Subcommittee approved the measure.
AP reported that the House passed a defense bill that eliminated diversity-related programs.
Coverage of the House-passed FY2026 defense appropriations bill said it blocked funding for DEI initiatives and abortion travel.
Assessments
Cole appears to have materially advanced the promised policy in the House appropriations process: reporting on the FY2026 defense appropriations bill says the House-passed measure blocked funding for DEI initiatives and abortion-related travel, and later committee action shows his committee continued moving similar defense funding language in FY2027. But the record provided does not show final enactment into law or conclusive proof that the restrictions were ultimately locked into enacted Defense funding. Because there was meaningful same-term legislative progress without final delivery, partial credit fits better than delivered or never.