Republican-ordered audits found April 11 determined Wisconsin state agencies and the University of Wisconsin System failed to track millions of dollars spent on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts during the 2023-24 fiscal year — making it difficult to fully assess the efforts which have been under review due to recent federal orders.
The audits’ findings will likely increase pressure from Republicans for universities and agencies remove any DEI-related programming, and DEI practices at UW in particular have come under close scrutiny.
Audit 25-06 focused specifically on UW System DEI spending, finding UW institutions spent $40.2 million on “offices with duties pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion” in FY 2023-24.
In an email statement to The Badger Herald, UW-Madison College Republicans Chair Benjamin Rothove called the university a “left-wing echo chamber” and said its leadership does not seem to acknowledge this — he said this means the university fails to promote ideological diversity.
“From the university’s racially discriminatory practices, to its failure to adequately respond to antisemitism, to the former chief diversity officer’s financial and academic misconduct scandals, it’s clear that reform is needed,” Rothove said in the statement.
Additionally, 99% of political donations by UW pre-tenured faculty go to the Democratic Party, Rothove said.
In an email statement to The Badger Herald, Universities of Wisconsin System Media Relations Director Mark Pitsch said the audit shows there is no single definition of DEI and therefore there is no ability to accurately aggregate spending.
The Universities of Wisconsin System is tracking spending on specific categories identified in the audit, according to an email statement from UW System Media Relations Director Mark Pitsch.
Audit 25-05, which specifically oversaw Wisconsin state agencies, was requested in April 2024 when the Wisconsin Joint Legislative Audit Committee asked for the completion of an audit of the DEI activities of these agencies to test their compliance with Executive Order 59 — which requires each agency to develop an equity and inclusion action plan, according to previous reporting by The Badger Herald.
This applies to staff retention, addressing promotion disparities and providing leadership opportunities encouraging a culture that values DEI activity at universities.
