The Biden Education Department Burned $100M On ‘Anti-Racist’ Social Workers And DEI For K-12 Schools

Key Insights on Biden Administration’s DEI Funding for K-12 Schools

1. Massive Federal Investment in DEI and Anti-Racist Training:

   • Between 2021 and 2024, the U.S. Department of Education allocated over $100 million in grants to train K-12 school social workers in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles, anti-racist frameworks, and critical race theory (CRT)-aligned concepts.
   • This funding was part of broader mental health programs aimed at increasing student support but implemented through an explicitly DEI-oriented lens.

2. Focus on DEI-Centered Programs in Key Institutions:

   • Specific universities, including Georgia State University, Florida International University (FIU), and the University of Alaska Anchorage, received multi-million-dollar grants for DEI training in social work programs.
     • Georgia State University: $8 million for a Master of Social Work program requiring a “Diversity and Social Justice” course.
     • FIU: $6 million for “Project DIG,” focusing on hiring diverse mental health providers trained in anti-racist approaches.
     • University of Alaska Anchorage: $1.2 million to fund community service learning courses on DEI, oppression, and privilege.

3. Criticism of Ideological Indoctrination:

   • Critics argue that these DEI and anti-racist initiatives emphasize ideological training over practical mental health support.
   • Erika Sanzi, from Parents Defending Education, voiced concerns that training social workers in frameworks centered on privilege and oppression could limit their ability to offer unbiased, equitable support to all students.

4. Political Context and Implications:

   • This report surfaces amid broader political debates over the future role of DEI and CRT in American education.
   • President Trump is reportedly planning to cut federal DEI-related programs, as part of his broader push to reduce the Department of Education’s size and eliminate what he views as unnecessary bureaucratic functions.

5. Potential Impact on Education Policy:

   • This funding initiative, and the backlash against it, reflect the polarized discourse on how best to address equity in schools.
   • Future education reforms could either deepen the federal government’s involvement in promoting DEI or scale back such initiatives, depending on political leadership.

Broader Takeaway:

This debate over DEI funding highlights a clash between two visions for U.S. education: one focusing on systemic equity and anti-racist frameworks, and the other favoring local control, neutrality in mental health support, and the reduction of what some view as ideological bias in schools. This controversy is likely to shape future federal and state-level education policies.