Study Claims Biden Administration Infused Over $1 Trillion into DEI Initiatives Across Federal Government
A new study released this week alleges a massive infusion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies into the federal government under the Biden administration, estimating that over $1 trillion of taxpayer money was directed towards DEI initiatives across numerous agencies. The report, conducted by the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) and the Center for Renewing America, aims to provide a roadmap for the potential next administration to identify and dismantle these programs.
The study identifies a total of 460 programs across 24 government agencies that reportedly diverted resources to DEI initiatives. The authors argue that this widespread implementation of DEI principles represents a significant shift in federal policy and resource allocation. They also claim that it was done so quickly that the public was left unaware of the true costs.
The study highlights specific examples of DEI integration within various agencies. For instance, it points to the Department of Defense’s plan to integrate "environmental/economic justice tools" into its training programs. It also references FEMA’s efforts to "instill equity as a foundation of emergency management," and the Labor Department’s push to "embed equity in a sustainable manner that recognizes the multiple and overlapping identities held by workers."
These examples, according to the report, demonstrate a systematic effort to embed DEI principles into the core functions of federal agencies. It adds that this approach stems from President Biden’s Executive Order 13985, signed on his first day in office. This order aimed to "advance equity and racial justice through the federal government" and mandated a "whole-of-government approach" to injecting DEI philosophy into the federal budget.
The authors of the study contend that the Biden administration’s implementation of this executive order resulted in a massive and rapid expansion of DEI-related initiatives, with limited public awareness of the associated financial burden. The report estimates that the cumulative budget of these programs exceeds $1.1 trillion, although the authors acknowledge that this figure does not encompass all DEI-related expenditures across all agencies.
The study categorizes the identified programs into three tiers based on their level of DEI integration. Ten programs are exclusively dedicated to DEI and are considered prime candidates for immediate elimination. Another 144 programs allocate significant resources to DEI initiatives and should be reviewed for potential termination. The remaining 306 programs incorporate DEI to varying degrees, but the extent of their DEI focus is indeterminate based on available documentation.
The report provides a department-by-department analysis of DEI programs and offers recommendations on how they should be addressed. The authors believe their findings can serve as a valuable resource for future administrations seeking to reverse the Biden administration’s DEI policies.
"DEI is deeply rooted throughout all aspects of the federal government, and it needs to be eliminated completely," stated Wade Miller, a senior adviser at the Center for Renewing America, in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Thankfully, the Trump administration has already embarked on a vitally necessary complete audit of each and every government program. We offer, in this report, what we hope are additional resources and tools that the new administration and Congress can use to identify, destroy and permanently remove DEI from the federal government."
FGI spokesman Roderick Law echoed this sentiment, stating that the study "could both expedite the elimination of DEI from the executive branch and show just how quickly pernicious ideologies can spread inside the government." Law further argued that "the nature of DEI is both divisive and anti-American, so why force it onto the military or the Commerce Department or the EPA?"
He added, "After President Biden lavishly funded and pushed these controversial principles into every possible area of government, our hope is that raising these questions and offering Congress and responsible executive branch officials tools and suggestions can keep it from happening again."
The report underscores a growing debate over the role of DEI initiatives in the federal government. Supporters of DEI argue that these programs are essential for promoting fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunity. Critics, however, contend that DEI policies can lead to reverse discrimination, prioritize identity over merit, and create division within organizations.
The Trump administration has made it a top priority to rid DEI from the federal bureaucracy. The president has signed multiple executive orders aimed at addressing what it argues is a practice that does more harm than good by ignoring meritocracy.
The Biden administration has not yet responded to requests for comment on the study’s findings. The future of DEI initiatives in the federal government remains uncertain and is likely to be a subject of ongoing debate and political contention. The extent to which the findings in this report will influence future policy decisions remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the United States.
