GOP-Ordered Audits Find Wisconsin Universities, State Agencies Failed To Track DEI Spending

The Legislative Audit Bureau of Wisconsin found that multiple state agencies and the University of Wisconsin (UW) System failed to track millions of dollars in spending for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

The Legislative Audit Bureau released Report 25-05 and Report 25-06 on April 11. The reports found that multiple state agencies and University of Wisconsin institutions failed to record the amount of money “spent specifically on diversity, equity, and inclusion.”(RELATED: University President Complains DEI Is ‘Misunderstood’)

A newly released audit found that the UW system and 15 Wisconsin state agencies failed to track how much they spent on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Story by @annakleiber03 and Alaina Walsh
Photo by Jake Piper https://t.co/U65nWwjg9N

— The Daily Cardinal (@dailycardinal) April 11, 2025

The report on the UW System estimated that there were three categories of costs but cautioned that the estimated amounts could not be summed up due to overlap. The report on state agencies estimated that there were four categories of cost and also concluded that the estimated expenditures could not be added together. All the estimated expenditures pertain to fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

The office estimated that over $40.2 million was spent by the UW System on offices involved with DEI. “Not all amounts were related to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the report cautioned.

It also estimated that $12.5 million was spent on employment positions related to DEI and $7.9 million on activities tied to DEI.

The audit on state agencies estimated $2.2 million was allocated toward the salaries of 47 jobs dealing with DEI at 12 agencies. 23 agencies spent an estimated over $700,000 to cover employees attending DEI trainings required by the state’s Executive Order 59. Issued in 2019 by Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, the EO, among other things, ordered the state’s Department of Administration to provide DEI training for state employees.

“The Department of Administration shall develop and provide mandatory equity and inclusion training for all state employees,” the document reads.

The Republican-controlled legislature ordered the audits of the universities and state agencies, according to The Daily Cardinal. Republicans of the Join Legislative Audit Committee issued a statement after the release of the audits criticizing support for DEI.

“Wisconsin should not tolerate, much less propagate, race-based discrimination masquerading as equality in its halls of government,” Republican State Sen. Eric Wimberger said in a statement. “Positioning bureaucrats as arbiters among imposed intersectional group interests is wrong, ineffective, and shockingly wasteful, allowing grifters to sell propaganda at a high price.”

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fired its chief diversity officer, LaVar Charleston, in January, an email obtained by Madison365 said. He was in charge of the university’s Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement. Rob Cramer, the university’s senior finance official, accused Charleston of “poor financial judgement” in a March letter obtained by the Free Beacon. Charleston allegedly offered 85 % of his personnel “substantial lump sum awards” totaling over $200,000 in December 2023 without previously securing permission.

University of Wisconsin Axes Chief Diversity Officer, Previously Accused of Plagiarism, for Gross Financial Mismanagement

via ⁦@aaronsibarium⁩

LaVar Charleston accused of doling out over $200,000 to staff

⁦@FreeBeacon⁩
https://t.co/kdoazWYlYZ

— Tim Gradous (@tgradous) March 18, 2025

President Donald Trump’s Department of Education (ED) has already warned that universities with programs that discriminate based on race could lose federal funding. The ED is investigating the University of Wisconsin-Madison for potential DEI practices and for accusations that they neglected to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian demonstrations over the conflict in Gaza.