The FBI quietly moved to close its Office of Diversity and Inclusion in December, the Washington Examiner reported. There was no word as to why it was closed, but the agency has faced criticism for prioritizing equity over all else.
President-elect Donald Trump was elated over the move. "Never should have been opened and, if it was, should have closed long ago," Trump said.
The incoming president has demanded the office preserve its records ahead of his inauguration. He has hinted that he believes it was undermining the FBI's core mission.
While it's unclear whether that's the reason, current FBI Director Christopher Wray has promised to resign from his post in time for the swearing-in on Monday. Trump has already named Kash Patel to take Wray's place, signaling a desire to change the status quo.
The ODI was launched in 2012 and was an ill-conceived addition to the FBI. The agency's website claimed the department was created "to provide guidance and implement programs that promote a diverse and inclusive workplace that allows all employees to succeed and advance."
The website also features a quote from Wray praising its creation. "One of the FBI’s priority initiatives is to build a high-performing, diverse, and inclusive workforce," the outgoing director claimed.
"We all make better decisions when we have the benefit of different perspectives," Wray added. This mission had the full support of President Joe Biden.
Just months after taking office, he signed an executive order "on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce." He said it was vital that the government "be a model for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, where all employees are treated with dignity and respect."
According to Fox News, Scott McMillion became the first chief diversity officer at the FBI in 2021. McMillion claimed his mission was to bring a "cultural shift" that may have impacted the FBI's actual mission.
The feel-good goals of DEI have done nothing to contribute to the FBI's purpose of keeping America safe. In fact, some argue that it is a hindrance when it becomes the focal point.
Nicole Parker, a former FBI special agent and contributor to Fox News, believes it became a distraction even as Wray admitted threats were "at an all-time high" to Americans. "'Flashing red lights,' as he has stated in congressional testimony," Parker shared Wray's words.
"There is no time for clubs, groups, or social agendas that divert time, attention and resources away from the mission of the FBI to protect the American people. DEI is a dangerous distraction. The FBI needs to focus on hiring the best and brightest based solely on meritocracy," Parker said.
"Americans deserve the best. I have never been on an operation or heard of a civilian calling into the FBI and requesting an individual of a certain race or gender provide them with assistance in solving their problem or stopping a crime they've fallen victim to. Americans simply want to be safe," Parker later added.
There's nothing wrong with hiring diverse people as long as they are qualified and can do the job. The problem is that those who focus on DEI often do so at the expense of competence.
