Memphis Standard

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn has raised concerns regarding the U.S. Department of State's allocation of funds towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a letter addressed to Secretary Antony Blinken, Blackburn questioned the department's use of taxpayer money to pay DEI employees instead of focusing on promoting U.S. security overseas.

Recent reports have indicated that top DEI officials within the Biden-Harris administration are receiving salaries nearing $200,000 annually, almost double what an average State Department employee earns.

Blackburn stated, "I write with concern regarding the State Department’s use of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer funds to pay the salaries of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) employees. The State Department’s apparent willingness to go to extreme lengths to prioritize diversity over competence in formulating a workforce for the agency, whose stated mission, in part, is to ‘protect and promote U.S. security,’ is demonstrated by the hefty salaries of top DEI officials."

The letter highlights specific financial disclosures showing that positions such as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer receive $194,510 per year while the Special Representative for Racial Justice and Equity earns $191,000 annually. In contrast, the base salary for an average State Department employee stands at approximately $97,000.

Blackburn further emphasized her concerns by referencing ongoing global conflicts involving Iran, China, and Russia. She noted that these geopolitical tensions require focused diplomatic efforts rather than resources being directed towards DEI agendas.

"As you know," Blackburn wrote, "the current geopolitical landscape is dangerously volatile... it imprudent and offensive for your agency to allocate hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to support a DEI agenda that does not support but in fact undermines America’s interests abroad."

The senator concluded by urging transparency regarding how taxpayer dollars are spent on these initiatives amidst international challenges.