Biden-Harris HHS Spent Tens Of Millions On DEI

Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spent tens of millions of dollars each year on diversity-related initiatives, according to a new report from the nonprofit watchdog group Open The Books. The department’s focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs has sparked concerns about the rising costs of such efforts amidst ongoing legal and political debates about their effectiveness and fairness, as well as inflation.

According to Open The Books, U.S. taxpayers are paying approximately $38.7 million annually to fund 297 full-time employees dedicated to DEI work within the HHS. Of these staff members, 247 earn more than $100,000 per year. These positions are part of the department’s larger push to incorporate diversity principles into federal agencies as mandated by Executive Order 14035, which was signed by President Biden in June 2021. The order calls for making DEI a priority in federal staffing decisions and directing agencies to develop policies aimed at advancing diversity and inclusion within the federal workforce.

In addition to the DEI staff, HHS allocates another $29.4 million per year to fund the Office of Minority Health, which employs 209 workers. This office focuses on improving “health outcomes for racial and ethnic minorities,” with the stated goal of “eliminating health disparities.”

The report also identifies additional areas where the HHS is investing heavily in diversity-related projects. For example, $608 million was allocated to “General Departmental Management,” with top priorities in racial equity, environmental justice, and climate change. Furthermore, HHS has set aside $241 million to encourage universities to hire minority scientists, $24.3 million to enhance diversity in nursing, and $5 million for the creation of new offices dedicated to climate change and health equity.

While proponents of these initiatives argue that they are necessary to address long-standing inequities, the increasing financial commitment to DEI has raised concerns, particularly as many in the private sector and academia are reconsidering or scaling back similar programs. In fact, several major corporations have already shuttered their DEI operations following costly lawsuits and growing backlash over accusations that such programs are discriminatory.

Under the Biden administration, HHS and other federal agencies have been tasked with integrating racial equity and environmental justice into their missions. The administration’s push for racial equity is embedded across a broad range of federal programs, with HHS dedicating substantial funding to health equity and climate change initiatives. Critics, however, argue that these policies are often vague and difficult to measure, raising questions about their long-term effectiveness in addressing substantive issues such as healthcare accessibility and environmental degradation.

With a growing number of citizens questioning the return on investment for diversity-related spending, some conservatives and watchdog groups are calling for greater transparency and accountability in how taxpayer dollars are used.

Open The Books’ report has added fuel to the debate, highlighting the increasing costs associated with DEI initiatives at a time when some argue that the focus should be on reducing wasteful spending and prioritizing core government functions like public safety, infrastructure, and national security.