DOGE Puts Biden’s Billion-Dollar DOE DEI Boondoggle In The Crosshairs: Report

The U.S. Department of Education has spent more than $1 billion on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in schools, according to claims by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

The figures were disclosed in a post on X, formerly Twitter, detailing expenditures on race-based hiring, DEI programming, and mental health initiatives.

DOGE’s analysis, citing data from grassroots organization Parents Defending Education, revealed the following allocations:

• $489,883,797 on “race-based hiring”
• $343,337,286 on “DEI programming”
• $169,301,221 on “DEI mental health initiatives”

The Department of Education spent over $1 Billion promoting DEI in America’s schools

-$489,883,797 for race-based hiring
-$343,337,286 for DEI programming
-$169,301,221 for DEI mental health initiatives

Source: https://t.co/0OLt4QEsdx

— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) December 12, 2024

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The total amount of $1,002,522,304.81 in grant money has been awarded since 2021, according to the report.

Parents Defending Education describes itself as an organization aimed at countering indoctrination in classrooms and restoring a non-political approach to education.

Through investigative reporting, litigation, and policy engagement, the organization seeks to promote transparency in school funding and programming.

The breakdown from Parents Defending Education highlights specific grants, including:

• A $4 million grant for a three-week residential “culturally responsive” computer science summer camp for 600 high school students.
• The University of Iowa receiving $1,261,718 to train 40 elementary teachers in “equity-centered education” for partner K-12 districts.
• The University of Missouri – St. Louis awarded $306,209 to train school counselors in Trauma-Informed, Antiracist Social-Emotional Learning (TIAR-SEL).
• The School District of Philadelphia receiving $3,973,175 for a restorative justice program modeled after a program from Oakland Unified School District, which involves an advisor linked to far-left activism and former Communist Party USA membership.

The findings coincide with President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to counteract what he describes as “woke” ideologies in the school system, including DEI and Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Trump has committed to cutting federal funding for schools promoting CRT and gender ideology.

During a speech at the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors Summit in Philadelphia in June 2023, Trump outlined his plan: “On day one, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children,” he said.

Former President Donald Trump vows to ‘cut federal funding’ for any schools pushing ‘inappropriate’ content on ‘children’ at @Moms4Liberty summit. pic.twitter.com/TREZ0dRgjN

— Crisis in the Classroom (@CITClassroom) July 1, 2023

He further criticized radical ideologies in education, stating, “The Marxist left, and other lunatics preaching radical ideology, have become a cult with their own creeds, and their own mantras, and their own rituals. Instead of taking children to church, they believe in taking children to drag shows. Instead of teaching them to say their prayers, they teach them to recite their pronouns.”

A recent Economist/YouGov survey found that 55 percent of Americans believe Trump will follow through on his commitment to cut federal funding for schools teaching CRT.

The report and Trump’s response highlight the ongoing debate over the role of DEI and CRT in education.

While some view DEI initiatives as necessary to address systemic inequities, others criticize the programs as divisive and inappropriate for K-12 education.

The discussion is expected to intensify as Trump prepares to take office and implement his education agenda.

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