President Joe Biden’s administration has come under scrutiny for its substantial spending on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI&A) efforts, with revelations that $77 million taxpayer dollars were allocated to such initiatives over the past two years. This spending, revealed in a private report obtained by The Daily Wire, is expected to increase further in the final year of Biden’s first term, with the administration seeking up to $83 million for DEI&A in fiscal year 2024.
Critics, including Republican lawmakers like Rep. Michael McCaul, have voiced concerns about the administration’s emphasis on DEI&A, viewing it as ideological overreach that permeates every bureau and embassy under the Biden administration. McCaul, who played a key role in requiring the State Department to disclose its DEI&A spending, believes that such initiatives risk politicizing the workforce and stifling dissenting viewpoints.
The disclosed spending primarily focuses on initiatives within the Bureau of Global Talent Management, aimed at maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. However, additional funds are allocated to support the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, including salaries for personnel such as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Constance Mayer, whose annual salary approaches $180,000.
Despite criticism, the Biden administration appears determined to expand DEI&A efforts, with a significant budget request for fiscal year 2024 indicating a continued commitment to these initiatives. The administration justifies this spending as necessary to meet legal obligations regarding non-discrimination and create an inclusive environment for all employees, framing the diversity agenda as a “national security imperative.”
However, critics argue that the disclosed spending represents only a fraction of the resources allocated to promoting DEI&A within the State Department. Additional initiatives, both domestic and international, receive funding that greatly exceeds the disclosed amount, including grants to LGBT activist groups and the employment of a Special Envoy to advance transgender rights globally.
Moreover, concerns extend beyond financial expenditures, with the State Department actively promoting gender ideology both domestically and abroad. From funding transgender employee recruitment plans in India to advocating for transgender rights in Kyrgyzstan, the department’s initiatives reflect a broader ideological agenda that has raised eyebrows among conservative circles.
As debates over DEI&A continue to unfold, discussions within conservative circles are focusing on potential strategies to counter the influence of left-wing ideologies within federal agencies. Proposals range from dismantling DEI offices to implementing policies like Schedule F, which could remove civil service employment protections for those obstructing conservative policy objectives. Organizations like the Heritage Foundation are also laying the groundwork for a potential conservative administration, preparing to fill key positions with individuals aligned with their values through initiatives like the Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project.
