Last Updated on July 31, 2025 by Bertrand Clarke
A Strategic Pivot or Political Sidestep? HHC’s Committee Name Change Sparks Debate
Indianapolis, IN – July 31, 2025 – The Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County (HHC), which oversees critical public health services including the Marion County Public Health Department, Eskenazi Health, and Indianapolis Emergency Medical Services, has renamed its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee to the Cultural Excellence Committee. The rebranding, announced at a board of trustees meeting in early July, has ignited discussions about its timing and implications, particularly in light of recent state and federal policy shifts targeting DEI initiatives. While HHC insists the change reflects an internal strategic alignment, critics and observers question whether it’s a calculated response to Indiana’s evolving political landscape under Governor Mike Braun and broader national trends.
A New Name, Same Mission?
The decision to rename the DEI Committee comes at a time when DEI programs are under intense scrutiny across the United States. According to HHC spokesperson Curt Brantingham, the rebranding is part of an internal review aimed at ensuring clarity and alignment with the organization’s core values and strategic goals. “This mission has not wavered in the face of shifting political winds,” Brantingham said in a statement to local media on July 8, 2025. He emphasized that the Cultural Excellence Committee will retain the same responsibilities, focusing on fostering an inclusive environment within HHC’s operations and addressing health disparities in Marion County.
The committee, established in 2018, has historically worked to promote equitable healthcare access, reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes, and ensure culturally competent care across HHC’s services. In 2024, the committee spearheaded initiatives that distributed over 10,000 free health screenings for heart conditions and diabetes in underserved communities, according to HHC’s annual report. The name change, however, has raised eyebrows, as it coincides with Governor Mike Braun’s aggressive push to eliminate DEI programs in Indiana’s state agencies.
Braun’s Anti-DEI Crusade and Its Ripple Effects
Governor Mike Braun, who took office in January 2025, has made dismantling DEI initiatives a cornerstone of his administration. On his second day as governor, Braun signed an executive order replacing DEI programs with what he calls “MEI” – Merit, Excellence, and Innovation. A July 2025 report from his administration identified 350 instances of DEI-related initiatives in state government, including grants aimed at reducing racial health disparities and a maternal health equity coordinator position, both of which were subsequently eliminated. Braun’s order also closed the state’s Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity Office, signaling a broader rejection of DEI frameworks.
This move aligns with national trends, particularly following President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order to terminate all federal DEI programs and spending. The federal order has had far-reaching consequences, with institutions like Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis closing its DEI office in March 2025, and Indiana University Indianapolis shuttering an equity-oriented office after losing federal funding. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Education, over 1,200 DEI-related programs nationwide have been defunded or restructured since the order was issued.
Against this backdrop, HHC’s decision to rebrand its DEI Committee has sparked speculation. “The timing is suspicious,” said Dr. Paul Halverson, founding dean of the Richard Fairbanks School of Health at IU Indianapolis. “When you see a public health entity like HHC, which has been a leader in addressing health inequities, suddenly pivot to a term like ‘Cultural Excellence,’ it’s hard not to see it as a response to political pressure, even if they claim otherwise.”
Community Reactions: Support, Skepticism, and Concern
The name change has elicited mixed reactions from Marion County residents and health advocates. Some community leaders praise HHC for maintaining its commitment to equity under a new banner. Lisa Diamond, a community health liaison with the Minority Health Coalition of Marion County, sees the rebranding as a pragmatic move. “Names change, but the work doesn’t,” Diamond said during a June 2025 health symposium in Indianapolis. “If HHC can keep pushing for better health outcomes for Black and Hispanic mothers, for example, who face infant mortality rates nearly double that of white mothers, then I’m less concerned about what they call the committee.”
Others are less optimistic. Local housing advocate Tyler Fenwick, who has worked with HHC on tenant health and safety issues, called the rebranding “a step backward.” In a recent interview, Fenwick argued that the term “Cultural Excellence” dilutes the committee’s focus on systemic inequities. “DEI is about addressing structural barriers—racial, economic, and otherwise. ‘Cultural Excellence’ sounds like a feel-good buzzword that avoids the hard conversations,” he said.
Data from the Marion County Public Health Department underscores the stakes. A 2025 study found that residents in Indianapolis’ near west side, particularly in ZIP codes 46221 and 46241, face higher rates of lung disease and cancer compared to county averages, often linked to environmental factors from the area’s industrial past. Black and Hispanic residents, who make up 38% of Marion County’s population according to 2024 census estimates, are disproportionately affected. The DEI Committee’s prior work included securing federal environmental justice grants to fund pollution monitoring and health screenings, but these grants are now at risk due to the Trump administration’s rollback of DEI-related funding.
Budget Cuts and Public Health Challenges
The rebranding also comes at a time when HHC and the Marion County Public Health Department are grappling with significant budget cuts. Indiana’s Health First Indiana initiative, launched in 2023 under former Governor Eric Holcomb, allocated $225 million to local health departments over two years to improve vaccination rates, maternal health, and child health outcomes. In 2024, Marion County received $11.8 million, and in 2025, it received $22.5 million, funding programs like back-to-school vaccination clinics and heart condition screenings. However, Braun’s 2026 budget proposal slashes this funding to $6 million—a 70% reduction.
Dr. Virginia Caine, director and chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department, expressed concern at a May 20, 2025, board meeting. “These cuts will force us to make tough choices,” she said. “We’re looking at shifting resources to maintain core programs, but it’s a challenge when the need is so great.” Indiana ranks among the worst states for obesity rates, cancer deaths, and maternal and infant mortality, with Black mothers facing an infant mortality rate of 10.2 deaths per 1,000 births compared to 5.1 for white mothers, according to 2024 state health data.
A Broader Context: National and Local Implications
The rebranding of HHC’s DEI Committee reflects a broader tension between public health priorities and political directives. Governor Braun’s “Make Indiana Healthy Again” campaign, launched in April 2025 alongside Trump administration officials Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, emphasizes nutrition and chronic disease prevention. However, critics argue that cutting DEI programs and public health funding undermines these goals, particularly for marginalized communities.
Nationally, the elimination of DEI initiatives has disrupted public health efforts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s closure of its Office of Environmental Justice in 2025 led to the cancellation of nearly 800 grants, including those supporting Marion County’s efforts to address pollution-related health disparities. Locally, organizations like Keep Indianapolis Beautiful lost a $400,000 federal grant for projects in underserved areas, partly because terms like “biodiversity” and “tree equity” were flagged as DEI-related.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for HHC?
As HHC navigates this new landscape, the Cultural Excellence Committee will face increased scrutiny. Its ability to maintain its mission amid funding cuts and political pressures will be critical. Brantingham insists that the committee’s work will continue unabated, with plans to expand community outreach in 2026, including mobile health clinics targeting low-income neighborhoods.
For now, the rebranding serves as a case study in how public institutions adapt to shifting political realities. Whether the Cultural Excellence Committee can uphold HHC’s commitment to equity without the explicit DEI framework remains an open question. As Dr. Halverson put it, “Words matter, but actions matter more. Marion County’s residents deserve to see results, not just a new nameplate.”
