Over $2B in DEI cuts made since President Donald Trump’s inauguration

The Trump administration’s efforts to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the federal government during the president’s first 100 days in office have resulted in significant changes. A detailed analysis revealed that nearly 750 DEI employees have been placed on leave or fired, resulting in savings of over $2 billion for taxpayers. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor were among the agencies that saw the biggest savings, with 256 DEI employees let go, saving taxpayers over $1.3 billion.

According to White House principal deputy communications director Alex Pfeiffer, President Trump’s order to end what he called “radical and racist DEI propaganda” in government is being swiftly enacted. Pfeiffer stated that “common sense has returned to government” with these changes.

In addition to the staff cuts and savings, the analysis highlighted various grants that were slashed and changes that were made as a result of the administration’s efforts to rid the federal government of DEI programs. Race-based grants, quota programs, and promotion commitments were eliminated at multiple agencies. Multimillion-dollar grants for DEI training and activist groups were also cut.

At the State Department, a $5 million grant aimed at supporting intersex and trans human rights organizations was cut. The Department of Agriculture saved $1.7 million by eliminating four years of DEI staff training on topics like “microaggressions” and “identifying and preventing racism in marketing.”

DEI-focused training, some of which was mandatory, was common under the Biden administration, according to the analysis. The USDA spent money on staff training to “cultivate an Eye for Inequity,” and Trump administration staff also found DEI bingo cards left over from the previous administration.

The Department of Education also saw significant changes, including the elimination of grants promoting racial hiring quotas and teacher training on topics like resisting “settler patriarchy.” The administration’s analysis revealed almost 100 antisemitic incidents left unresolved by the Office of Civil Rights within the Education Department.

The Health and Human Services Department also experienced steep cuts to DEI programs during Trump’s first 100 days. At the National Institutes of Health, over $350 million in DEI projects were slashed, including grants for studying structural racism and gender-affirming hormone therapy in mice.

In addition to these cuts, the Trump administration has taken steps to reverse the Biden administration’s DEI focus. DEI-related training courses have been ended, pronoun policies have been disabled, and DEI criteria have been removed from supervisory performance standards at various agencies.

President Trump’s executive order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” marked the beginning of his crusade against DEI. The order accused the Biden administration of imposing “illegal and immoral” DEI programs on the American people.

Overall, the administration’s efforts to end DEI programs have resulted in significant savings for taxpayers and a shift in focus away from what President Trump deemed as radical and wasteful practices. These changes have been met with both support and criticism, but they represent a clear departure from the DEI initiatives of the previous administration.