Wisconsin GOP Launches Audit of Diversity Initiatives Despite Democratic Opposition

The Legislature's audit committee voted 6-4 to launch a comprehensive review of diversity and inclusion efforts across state government after the Assembly's top Republican vowed to eliminate equity initiatives.

The Wisconsin Legislature's audit committee voted Tuesday to launch a comprehensive review of diversity and inclusion efforts across state government, a move that has drawn criticism from Democrats who accuse Republicans of trying to use the audit as a pretext to end diversity programs.

The committee voted 6-4 to order the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct the review, with all four Democrats on the panel voting against the proposal.

The audit is the latest in a series of efforts by conservatives across the country to limit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Republican lawmakers in about two dozen states have filed bills this year looking to restrict DEI initiatives.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who is white, has pledged to end diversity efforts in state government, saying that such initiatives are "cancerous" and that he wants a society that is "truly colorblind."

In December, Vos forced Universities of Wisconsin regents to freeze diversity hires, re-label about 40 diversity positions as "student success" positions, and drop an affirmative action hiring program at UW-Madison in exchange for funding to cover staff raises and construction projects.

Vos said after the deal was complete that he wanted an in-depth review of diversity initiatives across state government.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who signed an executive order in 2019 requiring each state agency to create and monitor equity and inclusion plans, criticized the audit, saying it is "a waste of taxpayer dollars" and "a political stunt."

Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback tweeted that Republicans are trying to weaponize the audit bureau "to conduct purely ideological and politically-driven exercises."

Sen. Eric Wimberger, a Green Bay Republican who co-chairs the audit committee, countered with a statement saying legislators must ensure state agencies and the university system use tax dollars wisely.

"This proposed audit has very clear goals of delving into the administration’s DEI initiatives," Wimberger said in a statement, using the abbreviation for diversity, equity, and inclusion. "What did the agency do? How much did it cost? And what did it achieve?"

Sen. Tim Carpenter and Rep. Francesca Hong, two Democratic members of the audit committee, released a joint statement accusing Vos of trying to use the diversity audit to deepen political divisions ahead of the November elections.

They predicted Republicans will use the audit as a pretext to end diversity programs across state government.

"This audit is nothing more than a political stunt designed to score cheap political points and further divide our state," Carpenter and Hong said in a statement. "The people of Wisconsin deserve better than this."

The audit is expected to take several months to complete. The Legislative Audit Bureau will report its findings to the audit committee, which will then make recommendations to the full Legislature.