Red state lawmakers warned about allegedly accepting 'DEI dollars' from hospital association: Watchdog

FIRST ON FOX: A conservative nonprofit is warning Tennessee lawmakers about a hospital group it says is quietly pushing radical DEI policies - even as some of those lawmakers have taken the group's donations.

The letter was also cc'd to state House Majority Leader William Lamberth, state Sens. Shane Reeves, Jack Johnson, Ed Jackson, Becky Massey, Ferrell Haile and state Reps. Gary Hicks, Sabi "Doc" Kumar and Ryan Williams.

"Our campaign asking what is Vanderbilt University Medical Center hiding exposed the health system's frantic and futile attempts to cover its widespread DEI tracks - essentially waving a great big red flag asking to be investigated," Hild added.

"This is why Consumers' Research has significant concerns that your acceptance of THA's DEI Dollars signals an organizational effort to prevent state investigations into hospitals, like VUMC, that have faced criticism for prioritizing equity over healthcare and providing irreversible gender transition procedures to minors," the letter to lawmakers on Friday states.

"This should be alarming to you and your constituents who rely on hospitals to provide exceptional care to patients, free of a political agenda."

Fox News Digital has reached out to VUMC, the Tennessee Hospital Association and Tennessee Republican lawmakers who received financial donations from them.

Fox News Digital's Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.