LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan House budget that proposes to cut the attorney general’s funding by more than 30% had one line item worth a review.

The House budget removed the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) officer for the AG’s office and the estimated savings totaled $218,800.

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Based on previous state data, about 44% of that $218,800 savings would be the cost of employee benefits, such as insurance and retirement pension and healthcare costs. An estimate would be the annual salary of the DEI employee in the AG’s office was about $123,000.

That DEI salary was far higher than average salaries for other state workers.

By comparison, the average teacher salary in Michigan was $69,068 in 2023-24 and the average state worker made $74,917 that same year.

The Donald Trump administration has made it a priority to end DEI type programs at the federal level. Trump signed an executive order in January mandating the federal government end DEI-type programs. The Trump administration has also threatened to withhold federal funding from states that didn’t end DEI initiatives.

The House budget moves to cut funding to the state AG’s office from $137.3 million to $91.3 million.