When it comes to going “woke,” U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman is at the forefront of trying to block the federal government from pursuing these controversial social policies.
On Monday, Hageman was named chair of the Anti-Woke Caucus, a group of U.S. House Republicans dedicated to fighting the growing influence of "woke" ideologies in government, business and society. She will be taking over from U.S. Senator-elect Jim Banks, R-Indiana.
“Harriet Hageman has played a critical role in our caucus since Day 1, and I can think of no one better to lead our members as they work alongside the Trump administration,” Banks said in a press release announcing Hageman as chair. “We are winning the war against wokeness, and Republicans in Congress now have a golden opportunity to defeat it once and for all.”
What Do They Do?
Hageman joined the Anti-Woke Caucus early on in her first term in April 2023. The stated goal of the caucus at that time was to expose and defund far-left programs in the federal government.
The group has championed legislation seeking to restrict the teaching of critical race theory in schools and corporate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Many of these initiatives are built upon a desire to elevate minority members of society as a way to counterbalance systemic racism.
For instance, in 2023 the Anti-Woke Caucus endorsed legislation that would prohibit the Biden administration or any other recipient of federal money from intentionally discriminating against or granting preference to any person based on race, color or national origin.
Some Republicans accused President Joe Biden’s administration of using $39 billion meant to build computer chip factories to further “woke” ideas such as requiring some recipients to offer child care and encouraging the use of union labor.
Federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, NASA and the U.S. Army have also been accused of embracing “woke” policies.
Future Goals
According to Hageman, the caucus wants the U.S. to return to being “a merit-based society that prioritizes free speech, fiscal responsibility, and the rule of law.”
“I am proud to assume the role of chairwoman of the Anti-Woke Caucus and continue our fight against the harmful overreach of left-wing policies,” Hageman said in the press release. “Under the Biden-Harris administration, government, educational institutions and even corporations bent to the will of extremist leftist ideologies that undermine American principles, common-sense policies and the Constitution itself.”
The Anti-Woke Caucus will have much more power entering the 119th Congress now that Republicans control both chambers and the presidency. Many Republicans view President-elect Donald Trump’s win as a mandate on removing woke ideologies.
Hageman said the Caucus will work hand-in-hand with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s “Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to implement policies that align with the will of the people.”
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis has joined the DOGE Caucus in the Senate to help with these goals.
“Our mission is simple: restore accountability, reinstate open discourse and ensure that Americans are not forced to accept a political agenda that contradicts the values that made this country great,” Hageman said. “Together with President Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, we will work to root our remnants of the radical leftist agenda still suffocating our social spaces.”
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
