The founder of Parents Defending Education condemns the Biden administration's increased spending on DEI in schools as a "slap in the face."

Nicki Neily, founder of Parents Defending Education, expressed disappointment over the Biden administration's decision to allocate over $1 billion on DEI programming and training in American schools, stating that it is a disservice to the country's students.

On Friday, Neily stated on "Fox & Friends First" that the Biden-Harris administration is wasting American taxpayer dollars by focusing on issues other than the 40% of American students who can't read. Neily called it a "slap in the face."

The Biden administration has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on diversity, equity, and inclusion grants for students and schools over the past four years, according to a study by Parents Defending Education.

The report indicates that $489,883,797 was allocated for race-based hiring grants, $343,337,286 was spent on general DEI programming, and $169,301,221 went towards DEI-based mental health training and programming, totaling $1,002,522,304.81 in all.

The report includes various grants, such as a $3,974,496 grant for a restorative justice program led by a former Communist Party USA member, a $4,000,000 grant for a 3-week residential "culturally responsive" computer science summer camp for 600 11th- and 12th-graders, and a $38,000 grant to a Michigan school district for a one-day professional development training by an equity consultant, along with copies of the consultant's book.

Neily contended that DEI is detrimental because it "divides individuals" and categorizes them as either "victims" or "perpetrators."

A recent study from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and Rutgers University revealed that participants who were exposed to DEI pedagogy experienced significant increases in hostility and punitive attitudes.

"It's not helping anyone, it's hurting American children," she told Planet Chronicle.

Several states, including Texas and Florida, have enacted or proposed legislation prohibiting DEI in higher education. Neily advised universities to prepare for the possibility that DEI will be phased out with the incoming Republican administration.

Over the next four years, we will have a major clean-up effort to completely eradicate these programs.

Vivek Ramaswamy, appointed by President-elect Donald Trump to lead his advisory board on reducing government waste, also responded to the report on X.

"This is worse than just wasteful," Ramaswamy said on X.

Trump nominated Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education in 2025, an idea that Musk and Ramaswamy have both signaled support for dissolving the entire department.