In a major move to cut government spending, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has canceled 104 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) contracts, saving taxpayers over $1 billion.
At a Glance
- DOGE cancels 104 DEI contracts across 25 federal agencies
- Total savings amount to $1,000,060,792
- Department of Treasury, Health & Human Services, and Office of Personnel Management among affected agencies
- Move aligns with President Trump’s executive order to end “illegal discrimination”
- Decision sparks debate between supporters and critics
Massive Savings Across Federal Agencies
The Department of Government Efficiency’s decision to cancel 104 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion contracts has resulted in substantial savings for American taxpayers. The move, affecting 25 federal agencies, has eliminated $1,000,060,792 in government spending. Notable savings came from the Department of the Treasury, which canceled 21 contracts worth $25,247,783, and the Department of Health & Human Services, which cut 15 contracts valued at $28,187,448.
Perhaps the most significant savings came from the Office of Personnel Management, which canceled just three contracts but saved a staggering $494,956,233 – an average of about $165 million per contract. Other agencies with notable contract cancellations include the Department of Agriculture with 11 contracts and both USAID and the Department of Homeland Security with seven contracts each.
The elimination of these DEI contracts follows President Donald Trump’s Executive Order aimed at ending what he termed “illegal discrimination” and restoring merit-based opportunity in federal agencies. This move has been met with both support and criticism from various quarters.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has also taken action, placing 60 DEI-focused employees on administrative leave. Morgan Ackley, a Spokesperson for the department, explained the rationale behind this decision.
“We are proud to have abandoned the divisive DEI policies of the past and pivot back to VA’s core mission,” VA Director of Media Affairs Morgan Ackley said.
Debate Over DEI Policies
The cancellation of these contracts has sparked a heated debate about the role and necessity of DEI initiatives in government. A group of liberal State Attorneys General, led by Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha, has criticized Trump’s actions, arguing that they do not address discrimination and are unnecessary.
“Contrary to President Trump’s assertions, the policies he seeks to end do not diminish the importance of individual merit, nor do they mean that employers are lowering their standards, hiring unqualified candidates, or engaging in race-and-sex-based preferences,” the joint statement reads.
On the other side of the debate, Republican lawmakers such as Rep. Aaron Bean and Sen. Joni Ernst are leading efforts to further reduce government waste. Bean has also founded the Congressional DOGE Caucus to support the initiatives.
This is just the tip of the iceberg…
