DOJ Reportedly Spent Over $100M on DEI and Restorative Justice Programs in Schools

A report claims the Biden administration prioritized diversity-focused initiatives over traditional safety measures in K-12 education grants.

The Department of Justice awarded $100 million in grants between 2021 and 2024 to over 900 school districts across 36 states, according to a report by Parents Defending Education (PDE).
Funds were allocated to programs promoting restorative justice, social-emotional learning (SEL), and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including projects addressing anti-racism and LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Critics argue that the grants shifted focus from traditional school safety measures to ideological programs, with PDE claiming the initiatives often disrupted classroom learning and failed to improve student outcomes.
Examples of funded projects include anti-racism programs in Minnesota, mental health initiatives involving yoga and meditation in Ohio, and violence prevention efforts targeting marginalized communities in Pennsylvania.
The PDE report suggests the actual spending may exceed $100 million due to incomplete data and calls for greater accountability in federal education funding.