Department of Defense’s $80 Million DEI Expenditures Under Scrutiny

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered over $80 million in spending by the Department of Defense on DEI initiatives and climate change studies, with further investigations revealing an additional $5 million in expenditures. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell criticized these initiatives as distractions from the military’s core mission, vowing ongoing scrutiny of spending habits.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has disclosed that the Department of Defense (DoD) allocated over $80 million towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This information surfaced following an investigation by Campus Reform, which further identified an additional $5 million spent on parallel DEI projects and climate studies related to universities.

Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell has pointed out various instances of what he termed “wasteful spending,” including:
– $1.6 million to the University of Florida for studying climate change effects in West Africa.
– $1.9 million for the Air Force’s holistic DEI transformation training.
– $6 million to the University of Montana to bolster democracy by bridging social divides.
– $3.5 million allocated by the Defense Human Resources Activity to support DEI organizations.

In addition to the previously mentioned expenditures, Campus Reform revealed further spending, which includes:
1. $1.6 million to Boise State University for research on climate change’s effect on bird egg-laying and migration.
2. $967,357 to Columbia University to investigate climate’s role in migrant border crossings.
3. $1.6 million to the University of Maryland to explore climate change’s impact on national security in Mozambique.
4. $1 million to the University of Maryland for examining American perceptions of refugees from climate-affected regions.
5. $44,380 awarded to George Washington University for the 2023 Air Force Office of Diversity and Inclusion conference.

Parnell asserted, “This stuff is not a core function of our military. This is not what we do. This is a distraction from our core mission.” He assured that these disclosures are merely the beginning of an extensive review of spending.

The findings from the Department of Government Efficiency reveal significant expenditures by the Department of Defense on DEI and climate-related initiatives that have raised concerns regarding their relevance to military functions. The ongoing investigation led by DOGE promises further insights into federal spending, with officials emphasizing the need to refocus resources on essential military objectives.

Original Source: www.campusreform.org