Oregon’s Deschutes County Dismantles DEI Committee Amidst National Backlash
Despite a desperate plea by Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang, commissioners voted 2–1 on Wednesday to dismantle its diversity, equity, inclusion, and access committee.
Committee Worked to Foster an Inclusive Environment
The committee was formed in 2023 to foster an inclusive environment for county employees and to give residents improved access to county services.
The decision to dismantle the committee follows President Donald Trump’s executive order to end all federal-level diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Chang said at the meeting on Wednesday that the committee improved access for public participation and addressed staff concerns which improved retention levels.
He said the committee helped improve service to the community and ensured that it represented the people it was serving.
County Commissioner chair, Anthony DeBone, voted to dismantle the committee, adding that he could not understand the reason for its existence. DeBone said enhancing community participation was already a goal of Deschutes County.
County spokesperson Kim Katchur said the diversity, equity, inclusion, and access committee was represented by seven county employees from five departments.
Committee Operated During Working Hours
According to solid waste director, Tim Brownell, the committee did not receive county funding, and its members spent four hours a month during working hours to attend to committee business.
The dismantling of the committee was brought to the attention of the county commissioners by Deschutes Administrator Nick Lelack. He believed the issue was ‘ripe for discussion’ following private conversations with some commissioners.
The decision has met with mixed reactions from the public – some support dissolving the committee, others say they are concerned about the implications of the move.
A resident of Redmond appealed to the county commissioners to reconsider, saying the committee helped many marginalized people in the community.