DEI Pay Cap Act of 2023

S 221, the DEI Pay Cap Act of 2023, limits the pay grades for Department of Defense (DoD) personnel working on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. It prohibits appointing or employing staff in DEI roles - such as developing DEI policies, leading DEI working groups, or creating DEI training - at ranks or grades above E-5 (military) or GS-5 (civilian). Current employees in these roles exceeding the cap must be reassigned to non-DEI positions within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. The bill directly affects DoD DEI staff and alters hiring and staffing practices for these specific roles.