Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy Friday proposed legislation that would permanently eliminate the positions of chief diversity officer and senior adviser for diversity and inclusion at the Department of Defense.

Both positions were established under the FY2021 national defense authorization law signed by former President Biden, part of a drive to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs at the Pentagon and elsewhere in the federal government.

“For far too long, radical progressive Democrats under the Biden administration have been allowed to turn our military into a social experiment,” said Mr. Roy. “I am thankful that President Trump and [Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth have taken decisive action to restore the focus of the Pentagon and rid the department of the radical DEI agenda.”

He added, “However, it is imperative that Republicans in Congress take action to make these changes permanent to ensure that no future Administration can indoctrinate our men and women in uniform with this divisive ideology.”

Mr. Roy is among several Republicans introducing legislation to back up executive orders President Trump has issued since he was sworn into office last month. Such executive orders can be instantly overturned by the next president if not codified into law.

The Texas Republican’s Restoring Military Focus Act, which he previously introduced, would repeal the diversity positions at the Pentagon and prohibit the use of federal funds to re-establish these positions again in the future.

Co-sponsors of the bill include fellow conservative Republican Reps. Daniel Webster of Florida, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.

Upon his arrival at the Pentagon last week, Mr. Hegseth was moved quickly on an array of military-focused executive orders from the White House, including measures reinstating troops kicked out of the military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, slashing diversity programs from the armed forces, and ordering the services to assess whether transgender personnel should remain in uniform.

• Kerry Picket can be reached at kpicket@washingtontimes.com.