‘Woke’ hospital faces scathing complaint for federally funded DEI policies
A prominent Midwest hospital system, Henry Ford Health (HFH), is facing scrutiny from a pro-Trump legal nonprofit, America First Legal (AFL), over its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. AFL has filed an official complaint with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), calling for an investigation into HFH’s alleged discriminatory policies.
Consumers’ Research, a nonprofit dedicated to consumer information, recently launched an ad campaign accusing HFH of prioritizing politics over patients with its DEI policies and transgender treatment for children. The AFL complaint alleges that HFH has implemented race- and sex-based discrimination in its employment practices, residency programs, and patient services under the guise of DEI.
The complaint accuses HFH of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, or national origin in healthcare settings. The AFL also claims that HFH is in violation of President Trump’s executive order banning federal support for DEI mandates.
The complaint calls for an immediate investigation into HFH’s practices, a suspension of all race- and sex-based policies, and legal and administrative penalties for noncompliance. It also requests a compliance review of all HHS-funded programs and referral of any potentially unlawful conduct to federal enforcement agencies.
Consumers’ Research has targeted HFH with an ad campaign called “Ford Health Exposed,” highlighting the hospital’s alleged discriminatory practices and promotion of a “woke” agenda. The campaign accuses HFH of performing harmful transgender treatments on children and prioritizing a radical climate agenda over patient care.
HFH’s website openly promotes its DEI initiatives, including unconscious bias training and supplier diversity programs that prioritize businesses owned by LGBTQ+ individuals or certain minority categories. The hospital claims that diversity is the foundation of its operations and is woven into everything it does.
In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for HFH stated that the hospital respects and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws. The spokesperson emphasized HFH’s commitment to serving Michigan’s diverse communities and providing healthcare services and employment opportunities to everyone.
The HHS has not commented on the ongoing investigation, but the AFL’s complaint signals a growing concern over the implementation of DEI policies in healthcare settings. The outcome of the investigation will likely have far-reaching implications for how hospitals and healthcare systems approach diversity, equity, and inclusion in the future.
