FBI shuts down DEI office days before Trump takes office and vows to end “woke virus”

• The FBI closed its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) days before Trump’s inauguration, aligning with his campaign promise to eliminate “woke” policies.
• Critics claim DEI initiatives compromised national security by prioritizing diversity over merit in hiring and operations.
• The DEI office, established in 2012 under Obama, faced backlash from Republicans and conservatives for allegedly detracting from the FBI’s core mission.
• Trump’s FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, plans to refocus the agency on national security and has criticized its current leadership.

The FBI abruptly closed its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The decision, announced on Thursday, aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate what he calls the “woke virus” infiltrating federal agencies. Critics argue that the FBI’s focus on DEI initiatives has compromised national security by prioritizing diversity over merit in hiring and operations. The closure comes as Trump prepares to overhaul the agency, with plans to nominate Kash Patel, a staunch conservative, as the new FBI director.

The FBI’s DEI office was established in 2012 under the Obama administration and claimed its goal was to promote a diverse and inclusive workforce. However, Republican lawmakers and conservative critics have long argued that such initiatives detract from the agency’s core mission: protecting national security. In a scathing letter to outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray earlier this month, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) accused the bureau of prioritizing “radical” DEI policies over competence.

“Your focus on woke DEI initiatives at the FBI has endangered our national security and the lives of all Americans,” Blackburn wrote. She pointed to the January 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans as evidence of the FBI’s declining effectiveness, claiming that the agency’s hiring practices no longer prioritize “the best and the brightest.”

Trump echoed these concerns on Truth Social, demanding that the FBI preserve all records related to the DEI office. “Never should have been opened, and, if it was, should have closed long ago,” he wrote. “Why is it that they’re closing one day before the Inauguration of a new Administration? The reason is, CORRUPTION!”

DEI under fire

The closure of the DEI office reflects a broader national debate over the role of diversity initiatives in government and the private sector. Critics argue that DEI programs often prioritize identity over merit, leading to inefficiencies and reduced operational effectiveness.

Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker, now a Fox News contributor, emphasized this point, stating, “The FBI needs to focus on hiring the best and brightest based solely on meritocracy.”

Parker also noted that the FBI’s DEI office was just one of many internal groups, including committees for various ethnicities, genders, and even a Toastmasters Club. “The FBI should be focused on being one in fighting crime, not various groups and divisions that divide,” she said.

The FBI’s decision to shutter its DEI office signals a shift in priorities under the incoming Trump administration. Trump has vowed to “end all of the Marxist diversity, equity, and inclusion policies across the entire federal government immediately.” His nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, has promised to realign its focus on national security.

Patel, a former White House national security official, has been a vocal critic of the FBI’s current leadership. He once suggested shutting down the agency’s Washington, D.C., headquarters and reopening it as a “museum of the deep state.” While Patel’s confirmation hearings have yet to be scheduled, his appointment is expected to bring significant changes to the bureau.

The FBI’s closure of its DEI office marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over the role of diversity initiatives in government. While supporters argue that such programs foster inclusivity, critics contend that they undermine meritocracy and jeopardize national security. As Trump prepares to take office, his administration’s focus on efficiency and accountability could reshape the FBI and other federal agencies.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

DailyMail.co.uk

FoxNews.com