Trump demands FBI retain all information on the shuttering of its DEI office, alleges corruption

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday night slammed the FBI over its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices, which was shuttered last month, and demanded that the bureau retain all information and documents related to the closure. 

The FBI confirmed on Thursday that it had closed the office in December as it prepared for the incoming president's return to the White House. The move also came after Republicans pushed other businesses to end their DEI practices in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action in colleges.

Trump claimed that the DEI office, which the FBI actually calls the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), should never have been opened and alleged that it was closed before his return because of corruption within the bureau.

"We demand that the FBI preserve and retain all records, documents, and information on the now closing DEI Office—Never should have been opened and, if it was, should have closed long ago," Trump posted on Truth Social. "Why is it that they’re closing one day before the Inauguration of a new Administration? The reason is, CORRUPTION!" 

The confirmation of the office's closure comes after Tennessee GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray earlier this month, claiming that the bureau's DEI policies endangered Americans during the New Year's terror attack in New Orleans.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has also criticized the bureau this month for focusing more on diversity than the safety of American citizens.

“Some of these agencies have gotten so wrapped up in the DEI movement,” Scalise told WWL Radio. “Call it wokeness, call it whatever you want. But ... their main focus is on diversity and inclusion as opposed to security. And they’re two very different things. And we’ve got to get back to that core mission.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.