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Mayor pauses hiring for DEI manager amid federal executive-order concerns; council and residents debate next steps
Summary
Mayor Wheeler told the council he paused the final hiring step for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion manager after recent federal executive orders and briefed the finance committee; the announcement prompted extensive public comment for and against DEI and questions about federal grant compliance and local authority under the city charter.
Mayor Wheeler told the Bremerton City Council on Feb. 19 that he had paused the final hiring step for the city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) manager after recent federal executive orders that raised questions about compliance and the city’s receipt of federal grants.
Wheeler said staff had advanced about three finalists to the final interview stage and that, as the approving authority, he decided to pause hiring because of “threats to the federal funding the city receives.” He said staff and council leaders, including the council president and the finance committee chair, were briefed and that the pause also responded to an anticipated review of grant certifications expected in March.
Wheeler referenced the city charter’s allocation of powers…
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