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In a Country ‘Based on Merit,’ DEI Looks at Everything but Merit: Experts

February 4, 2025

There have been rumors of President Donald Trump’s plans to abolish the Department of Education (DOE) — which is something he said he would do during his campaign in an effort to return education policy back to the states. This comes after years of parents and observers complaining of left-wing ideologies infiltrating the education system in the U.S. And while this proposal has yet to gain serious traction, Trump has taken action to remove as much LGBT and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related programs as he can from both the DOE and the federal government at large.

Just this week, news broke that dozens of DOE employees have already been put on paid leave as a result of Trump’s executive orders effectively weeding out DEI from the federal government. According to the Associated Press, Sheria Smith, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 252, stated that it’s unclear how many workers were put on leave or for what reasons. These alleged cuts come as Trump’s administration is empowering the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk primarily meant to cut wasteful spending.

When it comes to DEI, Trump made promises long ago to tackle it head on. And it’s no wonder, as Family Research Council President Tony Perkins explained, because “the Left’s fixation on DEI” has been rejected by the vast majority of Americans.

On Monday’s “Washington Watch,” Perkins was joined by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah) to discuss DEI and its consequential impact on American society. “[A]fter all that’s happened,” Perkins stated, “even [with] the election [outcome] and the rejection of their agenda, they still don’t seem to get it.” Owens agreed. As he emphasized, “this is why they lost. They can continue to lose. Americans are tired of this” DEI agenda because America “is a country based on merit.”

Owens went on to explain how it’s those on the Left who “have started putting in place a policy [in which] they’re not looking at merit at all. They’re looking at everything else — [skin color], gender, things that make no difference.” And yet, for most, he argued, “the minute you get into a position where you’re getting on an airplane, getting in a car, [or] getting in a taxi … we want the very best to be in control of that process,” and that’s what “we’re getting back to” as Trump and his administration work to get rid of DEI.

In addition, Owens noted that, for similar reasons, “that’s why … we got rid of affirmative action, because that was also a very racist [and] very demeaning ideology … when it came down to black Americans and their ability to think.” Ultimately, he added, “we’re going to get to the bottom of” these agendas. But moving forward, “I’m so thankful for the fact that all this stuff is being pulled out from the roots from our government. And we’re going to be putting the same process into our school system, teaching merit and making sure we’re holding people to the highest standards.” Once we do this, Owens emphasized, “Americans will stand up.”

Perkins highlighted how the push for DEI has some notable inconsistencies. For instance, he explained how the push for DEI in the government is not pushed nearly the same in a field such as athletics. “[Y]ou were a professional football player,” Perkins said to Owens. “[W]ould DEI work on the football field?” According to Owens, not only does DEI not work on the football field, but “to that point, isn’t it interesting that DEI is not put into athletics and is not put into sports?” That’s because “in sports you expect to win, so you put the very best talent on the team. … [T]he point I’m making [is that] they don’t mind [pushing DEI] when it comes down to intellectual stuff.” But “when it comes down to athletics, where we have to show … strength, then they” seem to back off somewhat.

“I’m not a huge sports fan,” Perkins added, but when it comes to the impact of DEI, “I think it’s more important that an airplane lands safely than someone win a Super Bowl football game.” And “when Americans get on to a plane or they get onto a train or whatever it might be, they expect it to do its very best to arrive at its destination. And the individuals directing it, driving it, flying it ought to be best qualified. Period.”

According to Owens, DEI fundamentally undermines American principles. “[A]cross the board, our country is based on merit. That’s how we respect each other. That’s how we command respect.” And yet, at its core, DEI “is a true racist thing” that throws merit out the window. As Owens concluded, “I’m just glad we’re pulling away from this and getting back to what really matters.”

Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.



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