Pentagon asks for $114M to spend on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in 2024

The Department of Defense is seeking approximately $114,000,000 to fund its latest round of initiatives promoting diversity.

In fiscal year 2024, the DOD intends to use these funds for programs promoting “diversity and inclusion” (DEIA).

The Strategic Management Plan of fiscal years 2022-2026 states that “the FY 2024 budget request by the President demonstrates DoD’s dedication to DEIA, and includes 114.7 million dollars for diversity and inclusion activities.”

The statement continues, “This funding is being invested across the Military Departments, OSD Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute in programs and initiatives that are aimed at advancing DEIA and incorporating DEIA objectives, values, and considerations into how we conduct business and carry out our missions.”

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According to Daily Wire reports, the funding request was the largest ever made by the DOD. The DOD had allocated $68 million dollars for DEIA projects in fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

The DOD wrote previously in its Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request that “Leaders of all levels must foster a climate that is inclusive, free from problematic behavior, and doesn’t tolerate retaliation against those who file complaints.”

The document goes on to say, “Recruiting and retaining a diverse force of people with different backgrounds, thoughts, experiences, expertise and education will enhance DoD’s global warfighter capability fundamental to all DoD operations.”

Specifics about the DEIA initiative for 2024 are still unknown.

Conservative critics are currently berating the Pentagon after it failed to pass its annual audit six years in a row.

Around 700 audit investigations were conducted by 1,600 auditors.

In 2023, the department only passed 7 of 29 subaudits — exactly the same as last year’s results. Auditors discovered that more than half of the claimed assets for the department could not be accounted.