Ohio State Rep on DC Police Chief: ‘Scam of DEI in Action’

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi was taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. Police Chief Pamela Smith continued to drive the news for her response about the chain of command, with state Rep. Josh Williams, an Ohio Republican representing the 44th district, among those taking notice.

When a reporter asked Smith to lay out “what the chain of command is now,” Smith sounded confused, asking, “What does that mean?” Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser quickly stepped in to reference Trump’s plans for DC and explained Bondi’s role “to request services” for the mayor.

Before becoming police chief in 2023, Smith served as the chief equity officer for the Metropolitan Police Department. Smith’s first role for the department, which she joined in 2022, has led to increased chatter about the role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Williams, himself black, was chief among them, as he reposted the Smith and Bowser clip and called out “the scam of DEI in action,” vowing to have it “eliminated from every institution in America.”

In a statement for The Daily Signal, Williams further addressed Smith and DEI. “D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith’s inability to grasp the basics of law enforcement and the law, including the meaning of ‘chain of command,’ exposes the fraud of DEI. For people like me who have earned our positions through hard work and merit, this is deeply offensive,” he shared.

This focus on DEI is nothing new for Williams, as he’s been quite vocal over social media. In April, Williams referenced an article from Black Enterprise, highlighting a 2023 Zippia study showing how only 4% of “Chief Diversity Officers” are black, while 78% are white.

The state representative cosponsored for the 2025-2026 session a companion bill to Senate Bill 1, the “Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act.” He was also present when Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, signed the bill into law in late March, which involves “eliminating DEI programs in Ohio’s public colleges,” something Williams referred to as “a significant step.”

The law went into effect on June 27, 2025.

Williams also cosponsored House Bill 155, which aims to “prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools.” The bill is currently in committee, with members set to return next month. The status of the bill is pending.

“In Ohio, I am leading the effort to dismantle DEI in every institution from public schools to government agencies. My legislation, House Bill 155, is a step toward restoring merit-based achievement across America,” the state representative further explained to The Daily Signal.

An article from Ohio Capital Journal in May also highlighted Williams’ sponsor testimony during a committee hearing.

As the report mentioned, the hearing delved into federal lawsuits against the Trump administration’s crackdown on DEI. Williams pointed to how long they can take and said he was “not willing to allow school districts to continue to indoctrinate children for the next four to six years while those lawsuits pend, just because somebody wanted to file a lawsuit.”

The Trump administration’s vocal opposition against DEI in education is in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s agenda on the matter.

Williams has also warned about the “millions” DEI could cost Ohio residents, referencing Ames v. Ohio Dept. of Youth Services. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously against DEI discrimination in the case involving Marlean Ames, a social worker who was denied a promotion as a straight woman.

Williams is running for Congress next year against Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who represents Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.

The post Ohio State Rep on DC Police Chief: ‘Scam of DEI in Action’ appeared first on The Daily Signal.