U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has voiced concerns regarding a council of federal inspectors general’s endorsement of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) agenda. Cruz alleges that the institution is unlawfully encouraging Offices of Inspectors General to consider race in hiring practices, as detailed in a letter exclusively obtained by The Daily Wire.
Addressed to Mark Greenblatt, Chairman of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), Cruz’s letter responds to an October 2023 report on the council’s DEI agenda. The report, issued by CIGIE, an independent government agency, encourages Offices of Inspectors General to factor race into their hiring decisions and provide unconscious bias training to employees.
Cruz opens his letter by highlighting the vital role inspectors general play in overseeing federal agencies and safeguarding taxpayer funds. He expresses disappointment that CIGIE appears to prioritize advancing the Biden administration’s partisan DEI objectives over its core mission.
The letter arrives amid efforts by federal agencies to embed the DEI agenda across the bureaucracy, spurred by a June 2021 executive order from President Joe Biden. Cruz asserts that CIGIE’s guidance promotes race-based employment practices contrary to merit-based principles and asserts that such actions are both immoral and illegal.
Cruz outlines various directives from CIGIE, including the creation of quarterly reports on workforce demographics and annual human capital planning discussions to increase demographic diversity. He criticizes these directives as unconstitutional and alleges that they violate the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.
Furthermore, Cruz contends that CIGIE’s guidance mandates DEI training for employees, including those resistant to the ideology. He points out the recommendation for annual unconscious bias training and integration of DEI elements into performance plans for senior executives and hiring officials.
Demanding transparency, Cruz calls on CIGIE to provide documents related to its DEI agenda, such as an “ally newsletter” and training materials on DEI, unconscious bias, and Critical Race Theory. The letter underscores the aggressive push to institutionalize the DEI agenda within federal agencies, citing examples like the Internal Revenue Service’s diversity training and the State Department’s directive on gendered language.
Additionally, Cruz highlights significant taxpayer spending on DEI initiatives, including the Pentagon’s allocation of up to $270 million under the Biden administration. He mentions instances of federal contractors endorsing far-left ideology and suggests that former President Trump may take action to reverse these trends if reelected.
In conclusion, Cruz hints at potential reforms under a conservative administration, referencing the Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project by the Heritage Foundation. This initiative aims to prepare for a shift in leadership and potentially overhaul DEI initiatives within the federal government.
