DEI poses greatest threat to our national, economic security

OPINION:

In the last few weeks, I have spoken with over 10 former high-level military and intelligence officials. Each one expresses the fear that the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives being pushed by Vice President Kamala Harris and other liberals will cripple the national and economic security of our nation.

I don’t care if someone is gay, straight, trans, male, female, Black, White, Asian, liberal, conservative, religious or an atheist. The person who is the most qualified for the job based on merit and experience should get it. Period.

That’s the point, and there is a growing threat to our national and economic security. Be it Ms. Harris, the Democratic Party, the mainstream media or academia, all prefer to fill an exponentially growing list of job openings via identity politics instead of merit and experience.

A recent Fox News headline read: “Top Oregon official put on leave for allegedly prioritizing ’qualified’ job candidates over ’gender identity.’” When I first read it, I thought it may have been related to a fake story created by the Babylon Bee or another satirical site. Unfortunately, it is frighteningly real.

As was reported, a diversity, equity and inclusion expert had her former boss placed on administrative leave for reportedly prioritizing merit over personal identity in hiring. Is it just me, or have progressives hijacked the word “expert” to justify their increasingly self-destructive list of policies and narratives?

Next, are you kidding me? This DEI expert ratted out her former boss because he dared to hire qualified job applicants. While truth is often stranger than fiction, that truth can also be quite dangerous.

Unfortunately for us all, this particular truth now determines much of the makeup of the National Security Council, the Pentagon, our armed forces, our military service academies, our intelligence agencies, our police and fire departments, our space program and many corporations. All have gone “woke” and DEI-centric at the behest of Ms. Harris, her campaign and the far left setting the policy for the Democratic Party.  

Here is a question for Ms. Harris and all those pushing identity before merit when it comes to hiring and filling positions. Do you know who doesn’t use DEI to staff their militaries, intelligence agencies and police forces? China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and others who have ill will toward our nation.

Do you know who hopes the United States escalates its DEI hiring practices across the board? China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, terrorist cells and drug cartels.

Certain positions in our government, military, police forces and private sector must be filled with the most qualified person. This is essential for our physical and economic security.

Lately, Elon Musk and others have waved a red flag regarding this issue. DEI hiring is weakening not only our national security but also our personal security. Blue cities are transforming their police and fire departments with DEI hiring and DEI leadership.

For example, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said that she is determined to remove obstacles for police recruits who fail to initially qualify for training as a means of diversifying the Los Angeles Police Department.

In response to that watering down of qualifications, Tom Saggau, spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Protective League, told Fox News Digital at the time:

“We think that particular provision or that goal or that idea is dangerous. … If you have police officers that can’t make minimum qualifications or attained minimum standards, for instance, there are recruits that have been in the academy that just can’t score the minimum requirements for a physical fitness test. … One hundred is the maximum score; 50 is acceptable. There are folks that are scoring under 10. That’s just dangerous.”

It’s more than dangerous; it’s insane. Lowering standards to meet DEI quotas puts lives at risk while destroying institutions from within.

Unfortunately, this trend is accelerating not just in our police and fire departments but also with our airlines, bus and rail carriers, air traffic controllers, utility companies, hospitals and other health care providers. Because these occupations collectively hold the fate of millions in their hands, employees should be hired based only on merit and experience.

DEI is putting our national, economic and personal security at risk. The unthinkable could occur if the trend is not reversed.

This threat is firmly on former President Donald Trump’s radar screen. He understands that for the sake of our nation, certain positions critically important to our national and economic security must be staffed with the most qualified candidates.

China, Russia, Iran, terrorists and drug cartels all realize that DEI initiatives are weakening the United States. They are all taking advantage of the trend. It must be reversed before it’s too late.

• Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of the book “The 56: Liberty Lessons From Those Who Risked All to Sign The Declaration of Independence.”