The U.S. Department of Education has spent over $1 billion on initiatives promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in American schools, according to a report by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by prominent figures Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The findings, which were broken down in a post on social media platform X, have raised concerns, especially as the funds appear to have been directed toward controversial and politically charged educational programs.
Nearly half of the funds, amounting to $489,883,797, were directed toward what DOGE calls “race-based hiring.” These funds were reportedly used to promote hiring practices in schools and educational institutions that prioritize racial diversity.
Another $343,337,286 was spent on “DEI programming,” which includes training, workshops, and other initiatives aimed at integrating DEI principles into school curricula and school culture.
The remaining $169,301,221 went toward “DEI mental health initiatives,” a category that appears to include funding for mental health services designed to address issues surrounding race, identity, and inclusion in the school environment.
These revelations came from grassroots organization Parents Defending Education, a group that opposes what it describes as the growing trend of political indoctrination in schools. The organization has been outspoken in its criticism of how DEI and other left-wing ideologies have made their way into classrooms across the country. It also advocates for non-partisan, non-political education focused on academic development rather than social and political agendas.
The University of Iowa received $1.26 million to train 40 elementary teachers on how to “enact equity-centered education” in local K-12 school districts.
The University of Missouri-St. Louis was awarded $306,209 for training school counselors in “Trauma-Informed, Antiracist Social-Emotional Learning” (TIAR-SEL), an approach that aims to combine trauma-informed care with DEI principles.
The School District of Philadelphia received $3.97 million for its restorative justice program, which is modeled after similar programs in Oakland, California. This program has been criticized for its links to far-left activists, including former Communist Party USA members, and its focus on what opponents see as progressive, political ideologies.
These examples highlight a broader trend in which federal funding has been used to promote programs that critics argue prioritize identity politics and social justice over academic achievement and traditional education.
Trump himself has become a vocal critic of the direction in which schools are headed under the influence of DEI and CRT. During a speech at the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors Summit in June 2023, he vowed to take aggressive action on day one of his presidency to “cut federal funding for any school pushing Critical Race Theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children.”
Many parents are demanding transparency and accountability regarding how taxpayer dollars are spent in schools, and there is growing concern that DEI and CRT initiatives are sidelining the core mission of education: to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life.
Easy way to fix that. Drop the dept of indoctrination.