Representative Jasmine Crockett recently raised concerns about a Republican proposal that could undermine efforts to promote diversity in hiring if a Republican candidate wins the presidency in 2024.
Crockett spoke out about this issue during a House Oversight hearing focused on federal employment, noting that some of her Republican colleagues seemed to be aligning with Project 2025, a initiative that seeks to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion practices within the federal government. Crockett expressed her frustration with the issue by citing her own qualifications and experiences as reasons for her strong feelings on the matter.
“I hold an honorary doctorate,” she stated. “I also hold a juris doctorate. I also hold a bachelor’s. I also technically hold the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Civil Air Patrol and I actually practiced law for almost two decades, in addition to serving on various boards, in addition to being a prior state lawmaker.”
“There are those that would make some people believe that because I happen to be Black and/or a woman, that somehow, even though I can rattle off all the qualifications in the world, my blackness makes me unqualified.”
Robert H. Shriver, the Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management, emphasized that the Biden administration is actively and energetically working to promote diversity in the workplace.
“What we do at OPM every day is look to knock down barriers that are keeping qualified people like yourself, qualified people from all across America, from pursuing federal jobs,” he said.
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While speaking to a witness Crockett went more into detail about the 2025 agenda.
“The agenda includes making sure that the next conservative administration dismantles DEI apparatus by eliminating various chief diversity officer positions,” she explained to a witness. “And you engaged in an exchange earlier with one of my colleagues, and I don’t know if you recall, but it was hitting me a little differently as a Black woman sitting here.”
“Because it almost seemed as if you either get diversity or you get qualifications,” she continued. “It did not seem as if my colleague understood that someone can be diverse and qualified.”