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DOGE Takes Aim At U.S. Department Of Education After Spending $1 Billion On DEI

The U.S. Department of Education has allocated more than $1 billion toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in schools since 2021, according to a report by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

The figures, shared in a post on X detail expenditures on race-based hiring, DEI programming, and mental health initiatives.

The analysis, which cites data from the grassroots organization Parents Defending Education, reveals the following breakdown:

  • $489.8 million for race-based hiring.
  • $343.3 million for DEI programming.
  • $169.3 million for DEI mental health initiatives.

In total, over $1 billion in grant funding has been distributed since 2021.

Parents Defending Education, which advocates for depoliticized classrooms and transparency in school funding, highlighted specific examples of DEI-related spending in schools:

  • A $4 million grant for a three-week residential, culturally responsive computer science summer camp for 600 high school students.
  • $1.26 million to the University of Iowa for training 40 elementary teachers in equity-centered education for partner K-12 districts.
  • $306,209 awarded to the University of Missouri-St. Louis to train school counselors in Trauma-Informed, Antiracist Social-Emotional Learning (TIAR-SEL).
  • $3.97 million to the School District of Philadelphia for a restorative justice program modeled after Oakland Unified School District’s initiative, involving a controversial advisor with ties to far-left activism.

The report coincides with President-elect Donald Trump’s vow to dismantle what he calls “woke” ideologies in the education system, including DEI and Critical Race Theory (CRT). Trump has pledged to cut federal funding for schools that promote CRT, gender ideology, and other programs he views as politically motivated.

Speaking at the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors Summit in 2023, Trump outlined his vision for educational reform:

“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 further criticized radical educational ideologies, likening them to a cult, and accused the left of replacing traditional religious teachings with gender and pronoun discussions.

A recent Economist/YouGov survey found that 55% of Americans believe Trump will follow through on his promise to cut funding for schools that teach CRT.

DEI programming in schools has sparked widespread debate, with advocates arguing that these initiatives promote inclusivity and address systemic inequities. Critics, however, claim such programs are politically biased and detract from core educational goals.

As the new administration prepares to take office, the debate over federal education funding and the future of DEI programs is likely to intensify, further shaping the direction of the nation’s education system.

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