• Donald Trump has accused the FBI of 'corruption' regarding its recent closure of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office.
• He has demanded that the FBI “preserve and retain all records” related to the DEI closure, which occurred in December 2024.
• The FBI has not provided a specific reason for the office closure nor commented on Trump's allegations.
• Trump is calling for a crackdown on DEI programs, which he and other Republicans claim detract from the FBI’s core mission of national security.

Following the announcement of the closure of the FBI's Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) in December 2024, President-elect Donald Trump has called for the preservation of all records related to this office, asserting that it should never have been established in the first place. In a post on Truth Social, he remarked, “Never should have been opened and, if it was, should have closed long ago…” He raised suspicions about the timing of the closure, saying, “Why is it that they’re closing one day before the Inauguration of a new Administration? The reason is, CORRUPTION!” (source: Newsweek).

The FBI confirmed the closure but did not cite a specific reason for the move, which aligns with Trump's ongoing campaign against DEI initiatives. This initiative has sparked considerable controversy as Trump prepares to take office. Several corporate entities have also recently ceased their own DEI programs, reflecting a broader backlash against diversity initiatives, adding to the mounting pressure from conservative factions (source: India Times).

Critics like Senator Marsha Blackburn have echoed Trump's concerns, expressing in a letter to outgoing FBI Director Christopher Wray that the agency's focus on DEI initiatives has compromised its ability to protect the American public. Blackburn emphasized in her letter, “I am deeply concerned that—under your leadership—the Bureau has prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives over its core mission of protecting the American people…” (source: The Hill).

Following high-profile incidents, including a tragic January 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans, there has been growing criticism aimed at the FBI for allegedly focusing too heavily on DEI rather than on public safety. This scrutiny comes as some Republican lawmakers question the benefits of DEI initiatives in law enforcement (source: Forbes).

As Trump prepares for his second term, he has nominated former Department of Defense Chief of Staff Kash Patel to assume leadership of the FBI, pending Senate approval. The backdrop of this transition highlights a significant ideological shift within the agency, as the President-elect prioritizes a departure from what he has termed "woke DEI initiatives" toward a model focused on security and efficiency (source: Newsweek).