U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has raised concerns about a council of federal inspectors general allegedly pushing the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda, asserting that the institution is encouraging Offices of Inspectors General to unlawfully consider race in their hiring practices. In a letter obtained exclusively by The Daily Wire, Cruz addressed Mark Greenblatt, the Chairman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), regarding an October 2023 report on the council’s DEI agenda. Cruz highlighted the critical role of inspectors general in overseeing federal agencies and safeguarding taxpayer dollars, expressing disappointment that CIGIE seems to be advancing what he perceives as a partisan policy goal of diversity, equity, and inclusion, rather than focusing on its core mission.
Cruz’s letter comes as federal agencies have increasingly embraced the DEI agenda following a June 2021 executive order from President Joe Biden, which institutionalized the ideology within the government. According to Cruz, CIGIE’s guidance includes advocating for race-based employment practices, such as quarterly reports on professional development and hiring actions by race, as well as mandatory unconscious bias training for leaders and staff involved in staffing and recruitment. Cruz argues that considering race in employment decisions is not only immoral but also illegal and unconstitutional, citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
In addition to challenging the legality of these policies, Cruz contends that they are part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to impose far-left ideologies on federal agencies. He highlights instances such as the Internal Revenue Service hosting diversity training featuring extreme transgender academic materials and the State Department discouraging gendered language. Moreover, Cruz criticizes the allocation of significant taxpayer funds, such as the reported $270 million spent by the Pentagon on DEI initiatives under Biden’s administration.
Former President Donald Trump has signaled his intention to counteract the proliferation of DEI initiatives within federal agencies if reelected. Trump has proposed measures like reinstating an executive order called Schedule F, which would enable the president to terminate thousands of bureaucrats with influence over policy. Additionally, organizations like the Heritage Foundation have launched initiatives such as the Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project, aimed at assembling a personnel database to facilitate a conservative administration takeover and counter the influence of outgoing officials aligned with the DEI agenda.
In essence, Cruz’s critique underscores conservative concerns regarding the perceived politicization of federal agencies and the imposition of ideological agendas that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion over merit-based principles. The pushback against these initiatives reflects a broader ideological divide within the government, with conservatives advocating for a return to traditional values and meritocracy in federal hiring practices and policy implementation.
