DOE Ends DEI Nonsense, Cuts 89 Contracts, Saves American Taxpayers Nearly a Billion Dollars [WATCH]

The Department of Education (DOE) has eliminated 29 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training grants totaling $101 million as part of a broader effort to reduce wasteful government spending.

The cuts were announced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which is overseeing a crackdown on costly federal programs.

In addition to eliminating the DEI training grants, DOGE announced that the DOE is terminating 89 contracts valued at $881 million in taxpayer dollars.

Also today, the Department Of Education terminated 89 contracts worth $881mm.

One contractor was paid $1.5mm to “observe mailing and clerical operations” at a mail center.” https://t.co/VaAw1vNAoa

— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) February 11, 2025

Dennis Quaid’s #1 Warning for Americans

One of these grants aimed to “help students understand/interrogate the complex histories involved in oppression, and help students recognize areas of privilege and power on an individual and collective basis,” according to DOGE.

The department also highlighted specific examples of wasteful spending, including one contractor who was paid $1.5 million merely to “observe mailing and clerical operations” at a mail center.

“Your tax dollars were spent on this,” Musk posted on X in response to the revelation.

Your tax dollars were spent on this https://t.co/wzewtHpEyR

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2025

The decision to cut DEI funding has drawn praise from conservative education advocates.

Why didn’t Maxine Waters ever storm the Department of Education after seeing the test scores of Black youth in Public School

pic.twitter.com/6S49qE0Iqs

— @Chicago1Ray (@Chicago1Ray) February 9, 2025

Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education (PDE), applauded the move, stating, “DEI was never about ‘equity’ — it was about enforcing ideological conformity and institutionalizing discrimination. Shutting down these wasteful, divisive programs is a win for every student. More states need to follow suit.”

DEI was never about “equity”—it was about enforcing ideological conformity and institutionalizing discrimination.

Shutting down these wasteful, divisive programs is a win for every student. More states need to follow suit. https://t.co/e2htORZINd

— Nicki Neily (@nickineily) February 11, 2025

The House Committee on Education and Workforce also weighed in, arguing that DEI programs promote indoctrination rather than education.

“We should be teaching students to think critically, not brainwashing them to view the entire world in the oppressor-oppressed matrix the Left is obsessed with. These programs should never have existed.”

We should be teaching students to think critically, not brainwashing them to view the entire world in the oppressor-oppressed matrix the Left is obsessed with.

These programs should never have existed. https://t.co/NKnOdgWo4U

— House Committee on Education & Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) February 11, 2025

Erika Donalds, chair of the Center for Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute and wife of Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), pointed to a greater issue in education, stating, “The kids can’t read.”

The kids can’t read. https://t.co/deEs0PASrh

— Erika Donalds (@ErikaDonalds) February 11, 2025

DOGE: More than 67% of American student can’t read at grade level. Whatever the Department of Education is spending $82B a year on isn’t helping our kids read. pic.twitter.com/n6OXlW6UGh

— @amuse (@amuse) February 12, 2025

The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order, signed on his first day back in office, which sought to eliminate DEI initiatives across the federal workforce.

“The public release of these plans demonstrated immense public waste and shameful discrimination,” the order reads. “That ends today.”

The executive order further states, “Americans deserve a government committed to serving every person with equal dignity and respect, and to expending precious taxpayer resources only on making America great.”

Just three days into Trump’s second term, the DOE’s announcement signaled a significant step in aligning federal agencies with the administration’s agenda to “end illegal discrimination and wasteful spending across the federal government.”

The elimination of these DEI programs is expected to be part of a broader effort to cut unnecessary spending while refocusing education initiatives on fundamental academic skills rather than ideological training.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.