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DOD Identifies Potential Savings by Cutting DEI Programs
The Department of Defense (DOD) estimates it could eliminate approximately $80 million in unnecessary spending by discontinuing several diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This announcement was made by the agency on Monday.
In collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), overseen by Elon Musk, the DOD is actively scrutinizing its budget to identify areas of waste. DOD spokesperson Sean Parnell discussed some of the findings in a video shared on social media.
Among the highlighted expenditures are notable sums allocated to DEI-related efforts, including $1.9 million dedicated to DEI transformation and training within the Air Force, and $6 million granted to the University of Montana aimed at “strengthening American democracy by bridging divides.”
DOD Instructs Civilian Workforce to Comply with DOGE Productivity Requests
Musk has pointed to a new poll indicating a strong public consensus favoring the creation of a government agency focused on efficiency, while also suggesting that DOGE has been instrumental in facilitating significant cuts to federal spending.
Additionally, the DOD’s evaluations uncovered $1.6 million allocated to the University of Florida to examine social vulnerabilities and institutional weaknesses related to climate change resilience in Africa.
“These initiatives do not align with the fundamental responsibilities of our military,” Parnell stated, emphasizing that such programs detract from the DOD’s core mission. “We believe these initial findings could result in savings of $80 million by eliminating wasteful expenditures.”
Continuing Bureaucratic Changes in Federal Agencies
The DOD’s efforts to streamline spending align with directives from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has advised the agency’s civilian workforce to respond to Musk’s productivity inquiries, despite prior instructions to refrain from commenting.
Last week, Hegseth mentioned that the DOD would collaborate with DOGE, which has been assessing efficiency across various federal departments, including Treasury, Labor, Education, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
He noted that many individuals working within DOGE are military veterans committed to uncovering inefficiencies, which he considers beneficial to the overall mission. “They share our goal to identify redundancies and to root out what they describe as the remaining vestiges of previous administration priorities—elements of DEI and climate initiatives that are peripheral to our mission,” Hegseth remarked.
Despite the ambitious objectives of DOGE, some have expressed concerns about the potential implications of granting Musk access to sensitive information and the breadth of authority he holds within this initiative.
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