In the 2022 to 2023 school year, the State University System of Florida spent millions of taxpayer dollars on critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, according to a report obtained by the University of Florida’s student newspaper, Independent Florida Alligator.
The controversial programs received $28 million statewide, over half of which was taxpayer-funded, Fox News Digital reported.
On December 28, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) released a memo requiring the state’s colleges and universities to report by January 13 all spending on DEI and CRT initiatives.
In a statement earlier this month, DeSantis said Florida “must ensure school systems are responsive to parents and to students, not partisan interest groups, and we must ensure that our institutions of higher learning are focused on academic excellence and the pursuit of truth, not the imposition of trendy ideology.”
According to the report, the University of Florida staffed 43 positions related to DEI initiatives and spent nearly $5.3 million – $3.4 million of that total was provided by the state, the College Fix reported. The university’s most significant expenditure was $1,085,485 for the “Chief Diversity Officer,” which was funded more than 70% by taxpayers.
The University of South Florida spent the most on the controversial programs at $8.6 million. The university’s “Diversity and Inclusion Office” received more than $1.1 million from taxpayers.
The college with the largest enrollment in the state, the University of Central Florida, spent $4.48 million on DEI and CRT initiatives.
The largest expense for Florida A&M University was the entirely taxpayer-funded $1.8 million for its “Center for Environmental Equity and Justice.”
An assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University received more than $10,500 from the state to lecture a “Gender and Climate Change” course, which “explores how gender inequality across the globe is related to environmental damage and climate change and examines feminist, indigenous and LGBTQ climate justice movements alongside the gendered implications of global policy and practices related to the environment.”
On January 18, DeSantis notified universities and colleges that they must also report all funding spent on “gender dysphoria” by February 10.
The State University System of Florida did not reply to a request for comment, Fox News Digital reported.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!