{"id":445974,"date":"2021-04-23T13:20:42","date_gmt":"2021-04-23T17:20:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=445974"},"modified":"2021-04-23T13:20:47","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T17:20:47","slug":"biden-nominee-to-opm-signals-woke-ification-of-the-federal-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-nominee-to-opm-signals-woke-ification-of-the-federal-government\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden Nominee to OPM Signals Woke-ification of the Federal Government"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbiden-nominee-to-opm-signals-woke-ification-of-the-federal-government%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=445974&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p dir=\"ltr\">Kiran Ahuja, President Joe Biden\u2019s nominee to lead the Office of Personnel Management, has said her goal is to free &#8220;black queer and trans people&#8221; from the &#8220;daily trials of white supremacy.&#8221; If confirmed, Ahuja would help set hiring standards and coordinate diversity training across the entire federal government.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Until her February nomination, Ahuja was the CEO of Philanthropy Northwest, a nonprofit that offers &#8220;diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused programs&#8221; to philanthropic foundations. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/philanthropynw.org\/news\/building-anti-racist-future\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/18bd2b05ff06018b5263dba8a80fa14e3d4418ed?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fphilanthropynw.org%252Fnews%252Fbuilding-anti-racist-future%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3D3f4695bf6031a09e&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636569000&#038;usg=AFQjCNE31sFaJ_0O-u4AFrsdkWCcXzs-Uw\">blog post<\/a> written last year on Philanthropy Northwest&#8217;s website, Ahuja pledged to play a &#8220;vocal role in our country\u2019s eternal battle for racial equality.&#8221; The post cited a <em>Guardian<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2018\/dec\/06\/antiracism-and-america-white-nationalism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/01495c90680d46ac1fcb55d31db0f18d9e5a39b6?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.theguardian.com%252Fcommentisfree%252F2018%252Fdec%252F06%252Fantiracism-and-america-white-nationalism%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3Dbcc22989dc38da7c&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636569000&#038;usg=AFQjCNHmrBGzBQLXslmEfa9Eil7oZLyD6Q\">article<\/a> by Ibram X. Kendi that proposed eliminating all &#8220;\u2018race-neutral&#8217; policies that yield racial inequality.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">OPM is supposed to be a nonpartisan agency that manages the U.S civil service. It grew out of the 19th century Civil Service Commission, which sought to curb corruption and patronage by hiring personnel based on merit. The agency\u2019s guiding principle, according to its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opm.gov\/about-us\/our-mission-role-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/63e28b3926387ea2a95ad07cec317bc02435ba56?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.opm.gov%252Fabout-us%252Four-mission-role-history%252F%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3Ddb6b185ea2c7e789&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636569000&#038;usg=AFQjCNFPSpkPn0OBDVDuE0tFok1Sczakow\">website<\/a>, is that &#8220;employees should be judged only on how well they can do the job.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kendi, whom Ahuja\u2019s group hosted multiple times, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aaihs.org\/why-the-academic-achievement-gap-is-a-racist-idea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/dc35e5d3a2baac519d116e38174243f3490ca06a?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.aaihs.org%252Fwhy-the-academic-achievement-gap-is-a-racist-idea%252F%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3Dcbb34c8d69052a33&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636569000&#038;usg=AFQjCNEWWBmuCPBBkeQsw8mYFGGVUAPjIQ\">called<\/a> standardized tests &#8220;the most effective racist weapon ever devised.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Biden\u2019s staffing choices at OPM indicate that the agency is already being politicized. OPM\u2019s communications director, Caroline Ciccone, was until recently the head of Accountable.US, a leftwing nonprofit that <a href=\"https:\/\/corporatecomplicity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20210120-FINAL-CACC-Open-Letter.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/dec01e8c25a1a38bca6e072406e819306b820119?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fcorporatecomplicity.org%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2021%252F01%252F20210120-FINAL-CACC-Open-Letter.pdf%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3D476a25630e3a9e39&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636569000&#038;usg=AFQjCNGrusr2vQH1D0oMdkMWxzxaF1MAVA\">pressured companies<\/a> to cut ties with former Trump administration officials. Since OPM sets hiring and promotion standards for the entire civil service, politicizing the agency could have ripple effects throughout the federal government.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ahuja\u2019s confirmation would accelerate this process. Shortly after taking office, Biden rescinded President Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foley.com\/en\/insights\/publications\/2020\/09\/president-trump-issues-new-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/262196497a6456170249f68a42b0a43f0927488a?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.foley.com%252Fen%252Finsights%252Fpublications%252F2020%252F09%252Fpresident-trump-issues-new-executive-order%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3D989572696d5dfa86&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636570000&#038;usg=AFQjCNFLxH5rigRyMZEah4PJsHLPKktUcw\">executive order<\/a> barring agencies from conducting diversity trainings that promote &#8220;divisive concepts,&#8221; such as the idea that &#8220;the United States is fundamentally racist.&#8221; Those trainings are Ahuja\u2019s specialty. Under her tenure, Philanthropy Northwest <a href=\"https:\/\/philanthropynw.org\/racial-equity-speaker-series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/2b326e78d7f5aa015c809f74b67870274a7a93d3?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fphilanthropynw.org%252Fnews%252Fequity-speaker-series-dr-ibram-x-kendi-antiracism%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3D9d4060cf75c6a40f&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636570000&#038;usg=AFQjCNFJKxJvsbAG9ku8xaTy0-sBqkmx0w\">hosted<\/a> a &#8220;racial equity speaker series&#8221; about the &#8220;racism and implicit bias inherent in society\u2019s structures.&#8221; Kendi was a featured speaker at the series and is frequently cited in Ahuja\u2019s writings.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The White House did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">What might federal diversity trainings look like with Ahuja at the helm? Her writings offer some clues.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">&#8220;All forms of discrimination flow from the subjugation of Black and Indigenous people,&#8221; Ahuja\u2019s post on Philanthropy Northwest\u2019s website reads. &#8220;We are asking ourselves and our philanthropy peers, \u2018how will we work to not only acknowledge the life and the future of the Black community, the Indigenous community, Black immigrants, Black queer and trans people, Black women; but also to affirm it so that they are free from the daily trials of white supremacy?'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Ahuja\u2019s answer: &#8220;prioritize equity-centered giving to organizations \u2026 including [the] <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nwcombailfund.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/e1b54d718ba165a0675e724e5451d361b2d96352?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.nwcombailfund.org%252F%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3D66fecf323b4735ba&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636570000&#038;usg=AFQjCNFwQcsCY8jDVcH35Xf-AI_cAE80WA\">Northwest Community Bail Fund<\/a>,&#8221; which endorsed defunding the police in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/NorthwestBailFund\/photos\/3367085383302084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/d0db990fcc0408b22b91e826a18edaeaab4fbbc1?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252FNorthwestBailFund%252Fphotos%252F3367085383302084%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3Dcea0d92c69489cc3&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636570000&#038;usg=AFQjCNEjGc0GCcuq3Rig2-p2emD3j0nVTw\">Facebook post<\/a> last June.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-57.png\" width=\"229\" height=\"469\"  style=\"display:none\"><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">This paper trail came up during her Thursday confirmation hearing, when she was pressed by Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) to answer whether she agreed with Kendi\u2019s article in the <em>Guardian<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">&#8220;I do not recall this article that you are referring to,&#8221; Ahuja said. She also punted on whether the United States is systemically racist.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Kendi has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/interactives\/2019\/how-to-fix-politics-in-america\/inequality\/pass-an-anti-racist-constitutional-amendment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/24a2921535f7ab1d9541d54315568fc4f61d0b97?url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.politico.com%252Finteractives%252F2019%252Fhow-to-fix-politics-in-america%252Finequality%252Fpass-an-anti-racist-constitutional-amendment%252F%26userId%3D6348687%26signature%3D102fe0be7cca6c03&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1619276636570000&#038;usg=AFQjCNHi-LRxLGi0DTFzH-pQ16IzR3XGAQ\">argued<\/a> that the United States should establish a Department of Anti-Racism to discipline &#8220;policymakers and public officials who do not voluntarily change their racist policy and ideas.&#8221; With Ahuja\u2019s nomination, he is one step closer to that goal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kiran Ahuja, President Joe Biden\u2019s nominee to lead the Office of Personnel Management, has said her goal is to free &#8220;black queer and trans people&#8221; from the &#8220;daily trials of &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2276565,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-57.png","fifu_image_alt":"Biden Nominee to OPM Signals Woke-ification of the Federal Government","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-445974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-57.png","fifu_image_alt":"Biden Nominee to OPM Signals Woke-ification of the Federal Government","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445974\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2276565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}