Biden Administration Allocates Over $1 Billion to DEI Grants, Report Finds

Biden Administration

A recent report reveals that the U.S. Department of Education has allocated more than $1 billion in grants to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives since 2021. The funding supports race-based hiring, programming, and mental health training across public schools in the United States.

Significant Findings from the Report

Parents Defending Education (PDE), a conservative advocacy group focused on combating activist-driven policies in education, conducted an analysis of public records from the Department of Education. Their research identified 229 DEI-focused grants distributed across 42 states and Washington, D.C. since the start of the Biden administration.

  • $489.9 million allocated to race-based hiring initiatives.
  • $343.3 million directed towards general DEI programs.
  • $169.3 million used for DEI-based mental health training and resources.
  • Total DEI spending: Over $1 billion in awarded and committed grants.

Controversial DEI Investments

The report highlights various instances where federal education funds have been used to support progressive education policies. These include:

  • A $3.97 million grant to the School District of Philadelphia for a restorative justice program led by a former Communist Party USA member.
  • A $4 million grant to fund a three-week residential computer science summer camp with a “culturally responsive” curriculum for high school students.
  • A $38,000 grant awarded to a Michigan school district for a one-day DEI training session led by an equity consultant, which included copies of the consultant’s book.

Federal DEI Agenda Under Biden Administration

DEI has been a central focus of the Biden administration’s Department of Education under Secretary Miguel Cardona. The term “equity” appears over 70 times in the department’s 2022-2026 strategic plan, which emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and social-emotional learning.

  • Recent announcements from the Education Department highlight grants exceeding $67 million under initiatives such as the Magnet Schools Assistance Program and the Fostering Diverse Schools Grant.
  • Biden has also signed executive orders mandating DEI actions across federal agencies.

Criticism and Calls for Reform

Critics argue that these DEI grants prioritize ideological programs over academic excellence. Rhyen Staley, a PDE researcher, stated that the administration is “incentivizing far-left ideologies instead of proven educational methods”—a move that some believe undermines student success.

Michele Exner, a senior advisor at PDE, also criticized the spending, stating, “Over one billion dollars squandered on progressive pet projects, while students continue to fall behind academically. Families are fed up and looking forward to change.”

Educational Performance Declines

Recent statistics from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) indicate that nearly one-third of U.S. public school students were behind grade level by the end of the 2023-2024 school year. Some experts argue that federal education funding should focus more on core academic improvement rather than DEI initiatives.

Future Policy Shifts?

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to dismantle the Department of Education if he returns to office, aiming to reduce what he sees as wasteful spending in government. Additionally, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are set to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) advisory board, have signaled their support for eliminating the Education Department.

The Department of Education has not issued a statement in response to the findings of this report.

Source: FOX News


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