<>

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT


<[link removed]>

Gov. Braun closes DEI office, mandates return-to-work in slew of executive
orders




The Indianapolis Star
Kayla Dwyer
January 15, 2025


[link removed]

<[link removed]>



On his second full day in office, Gov. Mike Braun signed a slew of executive
orders under the general theme of government efficiency ― among them, orders to
rid the state government of any diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives,
mandate in-office work for state employees and remove degree requirements for
state jobs.



"You can see what this is about," he told reporters in his newly occupied
governor's office, standing before a wall that's now blank, waiting for him to
choose his own portraits to hang. "Making Indiana government more efficient,
more transparent, more accountable. Every decision is being made with the goal
of improving services for Hoosiers and maximizing the value of taxpayer
dollars."



As governor, Braun has the power to enact orders that affect the functioning
and organization of the executive branch.

Braun is closing Holcomb's DEI office



Braun's executive order banishing DEI initiatives from state government
includes closing the Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity
Officer ― a cabinet position outgoing Gov. Eric Holcomb created in 2020
following the criminal justice protests across the nation and in Indianapolis
that year.


The end of remote work for state employees



The state first allowed government employees to work from home in March 2020,
when the COVID-19 pandemic surged.



Holcomb also issued an executive order mandating a full return to work in
2021, and yet according to Braun's executive order, executive branch employees
logged more than 7 million hours of remote work in 2024 alone.



Now, Braun is ordering full-time state employees to begin working in person
every day by July 1.



"We believe in the value of in-person collaboration and believe this will
foster a stronger and more connected state workforce," he said.

Removing college degree requirements for state jobs



One of Braun's executive orders directs the state personnel department to
review all state job postings to determine if a college degree is "necessary to
perform the job duties." If it isn't, he says, get rid of that requirement.



Braun wants to see degree requirements replaced with skills and
experience-based standards.



"In the enterprise I ran for 37 years, some of our best employees were just
good at what they wanted to come and do for you," he said, referring to his
company Meyer Distributing. "This is going to attract a broader pool of talent.
I know it works."


<[link removed]>

<[link removed]>
To Read The Full Story Click Here
<[link removed]>







PAID FOR BY THE INDIANA REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE.
NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. WWW.INDIANA.GOP.


101 W. OHIO ST., SUITE 2200 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204

This email was sent to [email protected]

Unsubscribe
<[link removed]>
This email was sent to [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>. Don't want to receive these emails anymore?
Unsubscribe
<[link removed]>
Indiana GOP, 101 W. OHIO ST., SUITE 2200 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46204