Biden-Harris Admin Hires Expensive New Addition to IRS

Biden-Harris Admin Hires Expensive New Addition to IRS
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a foreign policy address as Vice President Kamala Harris listens during a visit to the State Department in Washington D.C., U.S., Feb. 4, 2021.

The Biden-Harris administration has hired a high-paid DEI specialist for the IRS, aiming to enhance workplace inclusivity and diversity within the federal agency.

At a Glance

  • The Biden-Harris IRS is hiring a senior diversity and inclusion specialist with a salary range of $122,198 to $191,900.
  • The average annual American income in 2024 is $59,428, meaning the DEI specialist’s upper salary is 3.2 times higher.
  • Responsibility: To develop and manage DEI initiatives in the IRS.
  • The administration is embedding DEI strategies throughout the federal bureaucracy.
  • Other government agencies like ODNI, NSA, and the Department of the Interior are also implementing DEI initiatives.

The High Cost of Inclusivity

The Biden-Harris administration has made headlines with its decision to hire a senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) specialist for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This position offers a salary between $122,198 and $191,900, representing a commitment to inclusivity but also sparking discussions about federal spending. To put it into context, the median American income in 2024 stands at $59,428.

The specialist selected is expected to develop, manage, and supervise initiatives to ensure the IRS fosters equitable treatment and an inclusive environment. Tasks include articulating a business case for diversity, identifying best practices for training, and tracking strategies in DEI education, marketing, and communications. Further embedding DEI values is a pivotal part of the administration’s broader strategy.

Federal Bureaucracy’s DEI Agenda

The Biden administration is not limiting its DEI initiatives to just the IRS. Various other agencies have begun implementing their DEI strategies. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), for instance, celebrated Pride Month with rainbow manicures and held a talk featuring a transgender non-binary activist. Similarly, the National Security Agency (NSA) released a 34-page DEI glossary, and the Department of the Interior published a guide to inclusive language.

Former President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to reform the federal bureaucracy, specifically to make DEI hires fireable by the President if he is reelected. He argues that the focus should be on competence rather than meeting specific diversity metrics, countering current administration policies.

Diversity vs. Tokenism

Critics of the administration’s approach to DEI argue that despite good intentions, it can have counterproductive effects. Highlighting diversity efforts can undermine the merits of individual contributions and perpetuate tokenism. Public declarations of DEI intentions might suggest that underrepresented groups need special consideration, diminishing personal achievements.

Kamala Harris’s selection as Vice President was intended to be a progressive step but drew criticism for seeming like tokenism. Critics argue it reduced her to her gender and race, overshadowing her qualifications. This focus on diversity optics, they say, detracts from creating genuinely inclusive environments based on competence.

Conclusion

The move to hire a high-paid DEI specialist at the IRS underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to championing diversity across federal agencies. However, this decision carries implications for federal spending and raises questions about the balance between promoting diversity and ensuring meritocracy. As the DEI agenda continues to unfold in various government sectors, the broader impact on workplace dynamics and public perception remains to be seen.

Sources

  1. Biden-Harris IRS Hiring DEI Specialist With Salary More Than 3x National Average
  2. The ‘DEI Hire’ Trap: How Biden Turned His VP Pick Into Fodder For Critics
  3. FACT SHEET: President Biden Signs Executive Order Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Government
  4. Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act

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