Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced an executive order barring state contractors and grantees from using public money for what his office defines as discriminatory diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Under the order, discriminatory DEI means disparate treatment based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex or national origin in recruiting, hiring, contracting, program participation or the use of state resources. Contractors and grantees must certify they operate no DEI program that violates state or federal anti-discrimination laws.
The Comptroller's office will include immediate-termination authority in contracts to enforce the requirement, the agency said.
"Every contractor and every grantee is on notice," Huffines said. "Hire the best, promote the best, and serve every Texan the same, and you will do just fine. Push woke DEI with taxpayer money, and we will terminate your agreement on the spot."
The announcement is one of several executive orders Huffines has issued recently. In October, he also ordered the Comptroller's office to ban the use of grant money for automated license plate readers and other vehicle-identification systems.