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.
The Department of Education is currently reviewing Tester's concerns, but as of now, no response has been provided. Tester's stance against the Biden administration's DEI standards sets him apart from his party, which generally supports such initiatives, while Republicans have criticized prioritizing diversity over merit in hiring.
Tester, who is facing a tough re-election battle against Republican candidate Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, has been vocal about his focus on Montana and his race. Despite his high voting alignment with President Biden, Tester has not explicitly endorsed Vice President Harris, despite reports linking him to her Senate candidacy in 2015.
The upcoming election in Montana is expected to be highly competitive, with political analysts indicating an advantage for Sheehy. Tester's campaign did not provide a comment on the matter at the time of publication.
