‘We’re following the president from the top’: Deschutes County commissioners vote 2-1 to scrap DEIA committee

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Deschutes County commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday to terminate the county’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Committee, with the majority saying they are following the Trump administration’s direction and that the county already works to accomplish those goals.

Commissioners Tony DeBone and Patti Adair voted in favor of the move, with Commissioner Phil Chang opposed. DeBone, as commission chair, did not allow staff committee members to speak on the issues and their work before the vote, as Chang had requested, noting plenty of comments and feedback they'd already received.

A staff report from county Administrator Nick Lelack and Deputy Administrator Whitney Hale said the county created the committee in 2023, with involved staff members meeting up to four hours a month. They noted the committee was finishing up its first work plan but that if the board decided to “sunset” the panel, employee retention work would shift to the Human Resources Department.

“We do not expect this decision to impact existing DEIA work being completed in departments and offices,” they said.

(DEIA Committee discussion begins at 1:18 into the board meeting)

Chang noted that the board had not supported taking on a DEI initiative originally, but “staff took it upon themselves to address some critical needs,” including requirements from federal and state agencies that provide the county with grant funding.

Chang said the county is “not subject to any national efforts to eliminate DEI efforts,” calling it “work staff is doing to serve our community and that we’re reflective of the community we’re serving.” And he said he saw no reason to be discussing the issue in urgent fashion, on such short notice.

Chang also held up and pointed out a letter from county Health Services Director Janice Garceau about the county’s changes such as breast-feeding/pumping stations and accommodations for working moms and “pay equity and transparency for all employees.”

“None of these gains would have been possible without focused activity,” Garceau wrote (see the full letter below, along with the staff report for Wednesday’s agenda item.)

DeBone said they had already received some 90 emails and some phone calls since the item was put on the agenda. He said they appreciated the “wonderful” engagement but while seeking to avoid the “tricky words,” they were “having a hard time finding the common ground on this.”

DeBone said county policies are already “inclusive for all residents” and don’t allow discrimination.

Adair pointed to President Trump’s order banning DEI efforts across the federal government and said such efforts “should be in our HR Department.” She agreed with DeBone on not having a staff report at the meeting, saying, “We’ve heard a lot of comments from the community.”

Adair pointed out county efforts such as Spanish-language speakers during the COVID pandemic.

“I feel we’re following the president from the top, and the federal government is in charge of a lot of funding that comes to Deschutes County, and I would hate to lose it," Adair said.

DeBone later told KTVZ News that they are very open to answering questions and having more discussion about the related issues, but said he felt the committee was “an extra layer of bureaucracy that’s not needed.” He also urged caution about believing much of the information or claims shared on social media.