DOGE slashes over $100M in DEI funding at Education Department: ‘Win for every student’

The Department of Education (DOE) is making significant changes in its spending priorities, with more than $100 million in grants for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training being canceled as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative to cut wasteful spending.

DOGE, led by Elon Musk, recently announced the termination of 89 DOE contracts totaling $881 million, with $101 million earmarked for DEI training programs. These programs aimed to educate educators on addressing oppression, privilege, and power dynamics in the classroom.

Elon Musk criticized the use of taxpayer dollars for these initiatives, questioning their effectiveness and impact. In response to the spending cuts, Nicki Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education, expressed support, stating that DEI programs were not about equity but rather about enforcing ideological conformity.

The DOE also spent $1.5 million on a contractor to oversee mailing and clerical operations at a mail center, a cost that was deemed unnecessary and subsequently terminated.

Following a federal review of DEI teachings and practices initiated by President Donald Trump, efforts to scrutinize and eliminate such programs have intensified. The Trump administration has been vocal about its concerns regarding the nature and impact of DEI initiatives in educational institutions receiving federal funding.

In light of these developments, colleges like Missouri State University and West Virginia University have started shutting down their DEI offices. The move reflects a broader trend of reevaluating the role and effectiveness of such programs in the education sector.

Overall, the DOE’s decision to cut funding for DEI training signals a shift in priorities towards more cost-efficient and impactful initiatives within the education sector. As the government continues to review and restructure its spending, it remains to be seen how these changes will shape the future of education policy and programming.

This article was rewritten by Aubrie Spady for Fox News Digital.