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Forbes Daily Briefing

Pete Hegseth Hates DEI. His Deputy Put Tens Of Millions Into It.

Forbes Daily Briefing

Forbes

Careers, Business, News, Entrepreneurship

4.612 Ratings

🗓️ 26 April 2025

⏱️ 5 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The defense secretary once claimed the root of diversity, equity and inclusion is a “Marxist philosophy.” His very-capitalist deputy, billionaire Steve Feinberg, happens to be one of its largest funders.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Here's your Forbes Daily Briefing for Saturday, April 26th.

0:05.1

Today on Forbes, Pete Hegseth hates DEI.

0:09.3

His deputy put tens of millions into it.

0:13.2

Embattled Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth assumed his role with a clear mission in mind.

0:18.7

Four days after taking office, he said on Fox News, quote,

0:22.4

DEI is going to be ripped out root and branch. His deputy secretary, billionaire investor Steve

0:29.1

Feinberg, has a different perspective, having spent nearly $40 million on scholarship programs

0:34.8

for black students in recent years, making diversity, equity, and

0:38.5

inclusion initiatives the largest recipients of grants from his foundation.

0:43.7

Feinberg's commitment to the cause began in 2020, the year George Floyd's murder sparked

0:48.5

a national outcry. The biggest beneficiary appears to be Tuskegee University, which received a $5 million grant from

0:55.8

Feinberg's Foundation that year, one of the largest gifts ever for the historically black

1:00.1

school.

1:01.6

A press release issued at the time said the money would go towards scholarships for needy students.

1:07.2

The famously private Feinberg did not provide any quotes for the announcement, but his foundation

1:12.0

issued a statement with no name attached to it. It said, quote, we're very pleased to honor our

1:17.9

founder's philanthropic vision, with a grant that has real potential to advance racial equity in

1:23.0

post-secondary education. Money continued to pour in from Feinberg's foundation over the ensuing years, eventually

1:30.5

reaching about $20 million.

1:33.5

The investor also bankrolled a similar effort through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund,

1:38.2

to which he gave another $5 million in 2020.

1:41.3

That organization then provided $8,500 a year to about 60 students, who had to be

...

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