Joint Center Responds To U.S. House Office Of Diversity And Inclusion Disbandment

By Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies WASHINGTON — In response to the U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) closing today as a result of the passage of the 2024 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies issued the following statement: “Following the passage of the government spending bill, this disbandment deals a significant blow to the U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s bipartisan efforts since 2020 in promoting diverse hiring within the U.S. House offices. This decision jeopardizes the establishment of policies to support diverse communities and threatens the pursuit of inclusivity for all Americans. The dissolution of the ODI is not just a bureaucratic decision but a stark symbol of a regressive agenda undermining our call for more diversity and inclusiveness in congressional offices,” said Dr. LaShonda Brenson, senior researcher, who leads the Joint Center’s Hill Diversity work. “We commend Dr. Sesha Joi Moon, ODI director, for her commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within U.S. House offices. We also extend our gratitude to Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for her role in establishing the ODI. By shuttering the ODI, which the Joint Center was instrumental in advocating for its...