The Wisconsin legislature’s audit committee, with Republicans holding a 6-4 majority, voted to launch a review of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across state government.

All Democrats on the committee voted against the initiative, and it came after Republican state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos vowed to combat DEI initiatives.

Vos previously acted to remove “these cancerous DEI practices” from the University of Wisconsin campuses and succeeded in part with an agreement with the university system to freeze diversity hires, among other actions.

State Auditor Joe Chrisman said in a memo to committee members that the review could show what agencies have done to comply with the order, how much compliance has cost, as well as the outcomes.

Britt Cudaback, a spokeswoman for Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), said in a post on X that Republicans are trying to “weaponize” the audit bureau.

“The most flagrant and sweeping example to date of Republicans’ efforts in recent years to weaponize [the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau], an entity that used to enjoy bipartisan credibility and support, to conduct purely ideological and politically-driven exercises at the behest of GOP committee chairs,” Cudaback said.

While Vos has held a hard-line stance on his DEI elimination pursuit, a Republican on the audit committee says the review is to ensure tax dollars are spent correctly.

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“This proposed audit has very clear goals of delving into the administration’s DEI initiatives,” state Sen. Eric Wimberger said in a statement. “What did the agency do? How much did it cost? And what did it achieve?”

Republican opposition to DEI initiatives is not unique to Wisconsin. Republicans in states such as South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Florida have all launched actions against DEI initiatives.