2 North Carolina agencies announce end of diversity policies

Newly-elected leaders of two North Carolina agencies say they’re ending internal policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

In separate announcements Thursday, State Auditor Dave Boliek and Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said their offices will stop using DEI policies — a move that comes a day after President Donald Trump ordered the federal government to do the same.

Boliek and Farley, Republicans elected to office in November, suggested DEI policies would hinder their abilities to hire and evaluate state employees based on merit.

"DEI is divisive and brings little-to-no return on investment of time and resources,” Boliek said in a press release. “My goal in the Auditor’s Office is to establish a professional workplace where individuals are valued and measured based on merit.”

In a Facebook post, Farley claimed the labor department had used DEI metrics in evaluating employee performance.

“From this point forward, we will hire and evaluate employees based solely on merit and their ability to fulfill our mission to protect the health, safety, and well-being of North Carolinians,” Farley said.

Boliek is the first Republican State Auditor since 2008. He defeated Democrat Jessica Holmes, who was appointed to the position in 2023 after longtime auditor Beth Wood resigned amid scandal.

Republicans have controlled the labor department since 2001. Farley succeeded Josh Dobson, who won the job in 2020 but didn’t seek reelection.