Congresswoman Nancy Mace's recent post about protecting women's accomplishments—where she used her graduation from a previously all-male military college as an example—has prompted critics to point out that her admission was made possible by "DEI."
Mace, the first woman to graduate from The Citadel in 1999, wrote on Monday that she "fought like hell" for her achievement. However, many were quick to remind her that her admission was only possible due to a legal battle fought by Shannon Faulker and a Supreme Court ruling mandating that The Citadel admit women under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Commentators labeled Mace a "DEI admission," referencing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and noted that she directly benefited from the same principles she now appears to critique.
"Did she force them to give her a special bathroom or did she use the men's room?" one user quipped. "The courts ruled that The Citadel couldn't exclude women... Nancy Mace DEI'd her way into The Citadel."
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at curtailing DEI initiatives, which the order characterized as an "identity-based spoils system." A staunch supporter of Trump, Mace has also been a vocal opponent of DEI policies.
DEI has no place in the corporate world — and absolutely no place in our military.
— Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) January 14, 2025
The Citadel, a state-funded institution, only admitted women after three years of litigation, with Faulker leading the charge. While Faulker dropped out shortly after joining, her efforts paved the way for Mace and other women to attend. However, female cadets still faced hostility at the institution, as evidenced by Mace's experiences, including being hissed at by her male peers during the school's class-ring ceremony.
The irony of Mace's tweet wasn't lost on many. As one commenter noted, "Bold move to brag about being a DEI candidate while attacking the very principles that allowed you to break barriers. We'll see how that works out."
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