Amid growing concerns about government expenditure, President-elect Donald Trump has named entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a charge against federal spending on, among other things, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

A recent report has detailed the significant expansion of DEI policies under the Biden-Harris administration, showcasing numerous examples and extensive costs that the new administration hopes to slash, as Just the News reports.

Upon taking office, President Joe Biden prioritized equity through multiple executive orders. His administration's actions included directives focusing on gender and sexuality, leading to the widespread adoption of DEI policies across federal agencies.

These executive orders laid the groundwork for agencies to incorporate DEI strategies into their daily operations. As a result, federal entities submitted 80 "Equity Action Plans," detailing over 500 taxpayer-funded initiatives aimed at promoting equity.

The scope of these initiatives varied widely. For instance, the Social Security Administration began tracking racial data, while the Treasury Department launched a blog discussing racial inequality.

Increased Federal Spending on DEI Training and Contracts

Due to the Biden-Harris administration's equity push, federal training programs emphasizing racial ideology were implemented. Critics argue that these trainings often promote divisive concepts.

One such example is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which included equity considerations in its training modules as part of its regulatory decision processes.

FERC's Equity Action Plan states, "Training will address how equity and environmental justice involves removing barriers underserved communities may face in the context of the Commission’s practices, processes, and policies."

Growth in DEI Contract Spending in Wake of George Floyd Death

The American Battle Monuments Commission shifted its focus towards increasing contracts awarded to minority-owned, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.

The Smithsonian Institution, meanwhile, is committed to promoting a historical narrative that underscores American racism.

Such initiatives reflect a broader trend of prioritizing DEI following George Floyd's police-involved death in 2020, which catalyzed a surge in federal and private sector engagement with these policies.

According to a report by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, DEI-related federal contract spending escalated from $27 million in 2019 to over $1 billion after Floyd's death.

Christopher Rufo of City Journal noted, "But after the death of George Floyd in 2020, the federal government and private contractors went all-in on DEI, seeking to implement the Biden administration’s ‘whole-of-government’ equity agenda."

Debate Over Impact, Necessity of Federal DEI Policies

Prior to the Biden administration, federal DEI policies and grants were already well-established. However, their expansion and the associated costs have sparked a heated debate over their impact and necessity.

Over $2.6 million in taxpayer money was spent to train students in critical race theory, and millions more were allocated to train teachers in DEI ideologies.

This spending included portions of New York's federal COVID funding dedicated to training staff in recognizing 'equity warriors' and exploring other DEI themes.

The appointments of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy by President-elect Trump aim to scrutinize and potentially scale back these expenditures.

Their focus will be on assessing and reducing what they consider to be unnecessary or wasteful federal spending on DEI policies.