Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution Thursday that would bar the formation of House caucuses organized around race, ethnicity or national origin. The measure would effectively force the dissolution of several prominent Democratic-aligned groups, including the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
The proposal could also affect Republican-affiliated organizations such as the Black Republican Congressional Staff Association, the GOP Latino Staff Association and the Republican Asian American Staff Association. It remains unclear whether Mace, who is leaving office in January, would push for a chamber-wide vote on the measure.
Mace has spent her final months in Congress rolling out legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion policies, transgender participation in women's sports and birthright citizenship. The South Carolina Republican recently opted against a bid for the Senate seat vacated by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and endorsed Rep. Ralph Norman in the crowded GOP primary.
What the Right Is Saying
"Race-based caucuses are not diversity. They are federally-sanctioned segregation," Mace said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "You do not get to lecture America about inclusion while running an organization which checks your skin color at the door. The hypocrisy ends now."
Mace argued that taxpayer-funded institutions should not organize based on racial criteria. "It is time to end taxpayer-funded discrimination in this institution," she added.
The proposal comes as Republicans' recent redistricting efforts in several Southern states have reduced the size of the Congressional Black Caucus by eliminating or reshaping multiple Black-majority districts represented by CBC members. Supporters say the resolution aligns with broader Republican efforts to move beyond identity-based politics.
What the Left Is Saying
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who could become the first Black speaker if Democrats retake control of the chamber, is a member of the influential Congressional Black Caucus. Democrats have not yet issued a formal response to the resolution, but CBC members are expected to vigorously oppose any effort to dissolve their organization.
Critics argue that race-based caucuses serve essential functions in representing diverse communities and advocating for policies that address systemic inequities. These groups have historically worked on issues including criminal justice reform, voting rights, healthcare access and economic opportunity for underrepresented populations.
Defenders of the Congressional Black Caucus note it was founded in 1971 and has been a bipartisan fixture in Congress for more than five decades, working with lawmakers across the political spectrum on legislation affecting Black Americans.
What the Numbers Show
The Congressional Black Caucus currently has 58 members in the House, making it one of the largest member organizations in Congress. The Hispanic Congressional Caucus has approximately 38 members, while the Asian Pacific American Caucus has around 20 members.
The measure faces long odds in the Republican-controlled House, where it would likely encounter universal opposition from Democrats and could face resistance from some Republicans who participate in cross-party affinity groups. A floor vote has not been scheduled.
The Bottom Line
The resolution marks an escalation in Republican efforts to challenge diversity initiatives in Congress. While the proposal's chances of passage remain uncertain, it highlights ongoing debates about the role of identity-based organizations in American institutions.
Mace's departure from Congress in January means she would need another lawmaker to champion the measure for it to advance. Democrats are expected to frame any vote on the resolution as an attack on representation for minority communities. What happens next will depend on whether Republican leadership decides to schedule a floor vote, which would force lawmakers to go on record regarding race-based caucuses.