Trump Demands FBI Preserve Records On Shuttered DEI Office

Topline

The FBI closed its diversity, equity and inclusion office in December, the agency confirmed in a statement to Forbes, prompting President-elect Donald Trump to demand the FBI “preserve and retain all records” relating to the office as he accused the agency of “corruption” in a Truth Social post.

Key Facts

Key Background

Federal diversity programs have come under scrutiny from Republicans in recent months, with some pointing fingers at the FBI’s DEI office after a truck driver in New Orleans drove into a crowd of people, killing 15 and wounding at least 35 others. Days after the attack, Blackburn sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, claiming that under Wray’s leadership, “the Bureau has prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives over its core mission of protecting the American people,” alleging the “woke DEI initiatives at the FBI has endangered our national security.” Blackburn’s letter cites a report retired FBI agents sent to the House Judiciary Committee in October 2023, which claimed the FBI’s law enforcement abilities are “degrading” because it is no longer hiring the “best and brightest” candidates, which the report blames on DEI. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., similarly blamed the “DEI movement” in a radio interview after the New Orleans attack, claiming the “main focus” of law enforcement agencies including the FBI is “diversity and inclusion as opposed to security.” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, opened an inquiry into the FBI’s hiring practices in May and sent a letter to Wray requesting documents related to the FBI’s DEI initiatives. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s Department of Government Efficiency is considering slashing federal diversity programs, citing a recommendation from the right-wing nonprofit, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which identified $120 billion in annual spending on these initiatives, the Washington Post reported.

Tangent

The FBI’s DEI office closure comes amid a wave of backlash against DEI that has shaken up corporate America. Many companies have taken similar moves to shutter DEI offices and gut their diversity initiatives in recent months, including Amazon, which last week said it would end “outdated programs and materials,” and Meta, which said last week it had ended programs intended to increase diversity in hiring and diversity training sessions. Other companies that have rolled back some DEI programs include Boeing, which dismantled its DEI office, Lowe’s and Walmart. Some of these companies have been targeted online by conservative pressure campaigns, some led by activist and former music video director Robby Starbuck. Starbuck has claimed credit for Walmart and McDonald’s rolling back DEI initiatives, stating he had discussions with both companies before they announced changes to their DEI policies.

Contra

Fewer companies have stood firm behind their DEI pledges, including Costco and Apple, both of which recommended its shareholders reject proposals that would require the companies to review, and potentially alter, their DEI commitments. Delta Airlines said it would not alter its DEI initiatives on an earnings call last week, calling diversity “critical to our business.”

Further Reading

Apple Asks Shareholders To Block Anti-DEI Proposal: Here Are The Companies Ending Diversity Programs (Full List) (Forbes)