Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., told Newsmax Friday she was astounded the FBI had a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) program that shuttered in December.
"They had been holding those training sessions and had the New Orleans police chief as one of the instructors," Blackburn told "Newsline." "And we have all grieved over what happened in New Orleans."
Blackburn said instead of focusing on DEI, the FBI should've kept their focus on locking up bad guys.
On Thursday, the FBI said it closed its Office of Diversity and Inclusion last month as the federal government braces for crackdowns on woke programs in advance of President-elect Donald Trump taking office Monday.
According to the FBI website, the office was created in 2012 "to provide guidance and implement programs that promote a diverse and inclusive workplace that allows all employees to succeed and advance."
Last week, Blackburn sent a letter to outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray, condemning "radical" DEI initiatives that she argued had "endangered" Americans, citing the New Orleans attack as an example.
"I am deeply concerned that — under your leadership — the Bureau has prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives over its core mission of protecting the American people," Blackburn wrote. "A recent report, drafted by a group of retired FBI agents for the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, indicated that 'the law enforcement and intelligence capabilities of the FBI are degrading because the FBI is no longer hiring "the best and the brightest" candidates.' The report also notes that 'the FBI is selecting [lower quality] candidates to become FBI Special Agents because they satisfy the FBI's priority to meet Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) mandates.'"
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Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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