The governor's first major act saw the elimination of the DEI department in a Midwest state.

The DEI apparatus was removed from the state government just days after Indiana Gov. Mike Braun was sworn-in.

Meyer Distributing, a small Jasper truck-body business, grew into a major player with 700 product lines, and Braun, its founder, stated on Friday that only a politician who has signed the front side of a paycheck can truly comprehend the significance of economic priorities, and DEI is not among them.

"During the inaugural in Indiana, which took place over the weekend, there was a lot of excitement because of what was happening in D.C. and the potential partnership that could occur between states like ours, said Braun on "Fox & Friends.""

"Our governor has never been from Main Street."

Braun distinguished the conservative economic outlook from that of President Biden and other Democrats, whose agenda is centered on a larger government role.

Rahm Emanuel's statement, "never let a crisis go to waste," was his motto during the 2008 financial crisis, which he used to suggest seizing tough moments to push through personal agenda items.

In nearly 40 years of running a business, Braun has learned what works and what doesn't.

To become a priority, Indiana needs to focus on Merit, Excellence, and Innovation (MEI), he said.

Braun stated that the government should prioritize achieving outcomes for the people they represent. In place of divisive DEI ideology, they are implementing a level playing field of MEI, which is the same reason they are removing college degree requirements where they are not necessary and adding key performance metrics for accountability.

"Everyone should be evaluated based on their actions, not their identity."

Braun emphasized his business background and highlighted how his guiding principle of expanding Meyer into a large enterprise has always been "results, above all else."

"My administration is prioritizing that."

Braun mentioned the Supreme Court's ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which held that affirmative action programs violate the Equal Protection Clause, and stated that state resources would not be used to support any DEI positions, departments, activities, procedures, or programs that grant preferential treatment based on an individual's race.

The sentence can be rewritten as: "Indianans are not required to reveal their personal pronouns, and employers cannot mandate job applicants to provide a DEI-related statement."

Braun stated on Planet Chronicle Channel that he hopes the federal government will be reduced due to the influence of DOGE, as there are many anxious governors who want to increase their use of it, but they will proceed regardless.

Braun stated that due to COVID-19, an excessive number of Indiana bureaucrats continue to work remotely, and the DEI-nixing initiative is another way to optimize government operations, as Meyer suggests.

The DEI office in the state was established by Holcomb, Braun's predecessor.

In the aftermath of the George Floyd incident in Minnesota, Holcomb emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of inequities rather than simply reacting to their symptoms.

In 2017, when Mike Pence became vice president, Holcomb, the governor, appointed Karrah Herring, the University of Notre Dame public affairs director, to head the new DEI department.

Braun also received some pushback on his decision:

The minority leader of the Indiana legislature respects Braun's right to structure his new administration as he sees fit but has doubts about his chosen hierarchy.

State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, stated that despite the numerous challenges Hoosiers are facing, he cannot comprehend why this specific issue is a top priority.

GiaQuinta found the recent caucus meeting with the DEI office to be "insightful and helpful" in their work addressing Indianans' needs, while also considering the department's sunset as a "distraction from the real issues."