Trump Administration Achieves Over $2 Billion in Savings by Cutting DEI Programs

An in-depth examination reveals that the Trump administration’s strategy to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the federal government resulted in significant savings during the initial 100 days of President Trump’s term. The analysis indicates that nearly 750 employees involved in DEI roles were either terminated or placed on leave, amounting to savings exceeding $2 billion.

Major Agencies Affected by DEI Cuts

The findings released by the White House spotlight major savings at the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Education, and the Department of Labor. Collectively, these agencies accounted for a reduction of 256 DEI employees, yielding over $1.3 billion in taxpayer savings.

Overall, the Trump administration removed a total of 745 staff members engaged in DEI offices and related programs throughout the federal landscape, achieving a total taxpayer savings of approximately $2.33 billion.

Administration’s Commitment to Ending DEI Practices

In a statement to Fox News Digital, White House principal deputy communications director Alex Pfeiffer emphasized the administration’s decisive action. Pfeiffer stated that President Trump mandated the cessation of what he termed radical and racist DEI propaganda in the government, asserting that common sense has effectively returned to federal operations.

Impacts of DEI Program Eliminations

In addition to workforce reductions, the White House’s analysis highlighted notable cuts to grant programs associated with DEI initiatives. These changes reflect the administration’s broader objectives to eliminate race-based grants and training programs across federal agencies.

For instance, the State Department discontinued a $5 million grant aimed at enhancing leadership for mid-sized intersex and trans organizations. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture reported savings of $1.7 million by halting four years of DEI staff training that covered topics including microaggressions and combating racism in marketing efforts.

Criticism of DEI Training Content

One of the past training sessions funded by these grants attracted backlash for its content. A narrator’s remarks from the LinkedIn training program suggested that leadership growth depended on the acceptance of societal realities related to sexism, racism, and homophobia.

Removal of Race-Based Grants

Furthermore, the analysis cited instances where the USDA disbursed funds for race-focused initiatives. This included grants for Latinx growers and financial support for Black women’s regenerative farming projects. A striking revelation included $600,000 allocated for research on biological male menstruation and $361,000 aimed at fostering queer and trans farmers.

Findings at the Department of Education

Similar patterns emerged at the Department of Education, where documents and initiatives supporting race-centric priorities were identified. Notable entries included plans for supporting Black male political appointees and a focus on advancing resources for Black male students.

Under the Trump administration, the Education Department also eliminated numerous grants that promoted racial hiring quotas while disbanding teacher training sessions that addressed topics like resisting settler patriarchy.

Looking Back at Prior Administration’s Controversies

The analysis also touched on unresolved issues from the previous Biden administration’s Office of Civil Rights, highlighting nearly 100 antisemitic incident reports that remained unaddressed. The analysis asserted that there were instructions for staff to delay action on civil rights complaints, including a controversial case involving transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.

Moreover, it revealed that the Biden administration had not effectively addressed Freedom of Information Act requests concerning its DEI initiatives. The White House recorded almost 4,000 outstanding requests with the Department of Labor, which had been promoting DEI-based hiring practices under President Biden.

Significant Cuts at the Health and Human Services Department

Notably, the Health and Human Services Department also faced dramatic reductions of DEI-related programs during the first 100 days of the Trump presidency. At the National Institutes of Health alone, funding for DEI projects was cut by over $350 million, affecting studies related to structural racism and gender-affirming treatments.

Steps Taken to Correct Previous DEI Initiatives

The Trump administration’s initiatives extended beyond mere budget cuts. Efforts were made to eliminate DEI-related training courses within the Department of Transportation, including the discontinuation of online features allowing users to indicate their pronouns. This approach was consistent across various agencies.

The administration has also been proactive in reshaping the criteria for supervisory performance evaluations. Specifically, over 2,900 standards at the Energy Department were adjusted to remove DEI-related expectations. Additionally, the Department of the Interior disbanded its DEIA Council, which was designed to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles throughout its operations.

Trump’s Ongoing Process Against DEI

Trump’s campaign against DEI began immediately upon assuming office, marked by an executive order calling for the end of government DEI programs, which he deemed radical and wasteful. The order criticized the Biden administration for what Trump described as illegal and immoral DEI undertakings affecting American citizens.

The analysis emphasizes that this initiative stemmed from Trump’s administration’s first-day commitment to restructuring the focus of government funding and training programs.