Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat from Montana, has called on President Biden and the Department of Education to promptly reverse a grant rejection for Montana universities due to failure to meet diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring standards. Tester criticized the decision, stating that it reflects a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington bureaucrats who do not understand Montana's unique circumstances.
In a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Tester expressed deep concern over the rejection, citing unfair scoring related to subjective diversity hiring requirements. The grant in question, the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), has been received by Montana university systems for 25 years.
