(GAO) The Department of Defense made changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion workforce, as required by a 2024 law. Among other things, the law
- Stated that DOD may not establish new or fill vacant DEI positions
- Set limits on pay rates for civilian employees with duties related to DEI
- Executive orders in 2025 further directed federal agencies, including DOD, to end DEI programs.
We reviewed data on civilian, military, and contract personnel employed to develop and implement DEI policy across DOD.
In response to the law, DOD reduced its DEI workforce. DOD further eliminated all remaining DEI positions to implement the executive orders.
Read full report: Department of Defense: DEI Workforce Reductions (pdf)
Highlights
What GAO Found
Provisions within the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, enacted on December 22, 2023, required the Department of Defense (DOD) to make changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) workforce.
In addition, executive orders issued in January 2025 directed the termination of federal DEI programs and activities and further directed DOD to abolish all DEI offices.
GAO found that DOD reduced its civilian workforce in response to the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act by abolishing certain DEI positions and restructuring others.
Prior to these changes, according to officials,
- DOD did not widely use contractors to develop and implement DEI activities across the department, and DOD’s workforce supported and implemented its DEI program goals and efforts by developing training, supporting DEI committees and working groups, maintaining and analyzing data, and responding to reporting requirements.
- After DOD restructured its DEI workforce in response to the law, DOD took steps to implement the 2025 executive orders by abolishing or restructuring all 41 remaining civilian and military positions with primary duties related to DEI; disbanding a federal DEI advisory committee; and initiating a task force to oversee efforts to abolish DEI offices.
Results of DOD Implementation of Executive Orders on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Positions
Why GAO Did This Study
Senate Report 118-58 contains a provision for GAO to review DOD’s DEI workforce, including the number and grade of federal civilian, military, and contract personnel employed to develop and implement DEI policy across the department.
This report provides observations on (1) how DOD’s implementation of provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 changed the number of federal civilian and military personnel it employs to develop and implement DEI policy; (2) how DOD used contractors to develop and implement DEI activities; and (3) how DOD’s workforce supported and implemented its DEI efforts.
GAO reviewed policy and other documents, guidance, and memorandums regarding DOD’s DEI workforce.
GAO further collected DOD DEI workforce data from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and each military service; searched relevant data systems for DEI contracts; identified and reviewed congressional reporting requirements related to DEI work; collected and assessed DEI training information and requirements; and interviewed cognizant officials.
For more information, contact Cathleen A. Berrick at [email protected].
Read full report: Department of Defense: DEI Workforce Reductions (pdf)
Leave a Comment