(The Center Square) – The Department of Veterans Affairs is eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across federal agencies, redirecting at least $8 million in spending in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order eliminating DEI programs across the federal government.
The VA placed 60 employees who were working on DEI initiatives on paid administration leave. According to the VA, these employees collectively earned $8 million annually, averaging $136,000 per employee and exceeding $220,000 for at least one employee.
The VA said it is reviewing all administrative spending to identify other areas for cost savings and noted that it has identified several contracts for DEI training, materials, and consulting services that, when combined total $6.1 million.
The decision to end the programs is in line with Trump’s executive order issued last week, which directs federal agencies to cut initiatives deemed unnecessary or not directly tied to “core missions,” which the administration has argued are an insufficient use of taxpayer dollars.
“Under President Trump, VA is laser-focused on providing the best possible care and benefits to Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors. We are proud to have abandoned the divisive DEI policies of the past and pivot back to VA’s core mission,” VA Director of Media Affairs Morgan Ackley said in a statement.
“We look forward to reallocating the millions of dollars the department was spending on DEI programs and personnel to better serve the men and women who have bravely served our nation,” continued Ackley.
The VA is also removing various DEI-related media from its digital properties.
The VA stated that it would reallocate those resources “to better support the Veterans, families, caregivers, and survivors the department exists to serve.”
The new executive order has sparked a larger debate over the role of DEI in federal agencies and the impact or implications of scaling back the programs.
Although the executive order ended DEI programs throughout the federal government, some private sector businesses are following suit. Target announced its end of DEI initiatives, while Apple said it recommends that shareholders vote against ending the initiatives at an upcoming meeting on Feb. 25, 2025.
