"They're not trying to reach a quota like DEI is doing," said Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), who himself co-sponsored legislation to eliminate federal DEI programs, speaking in defense of the aforementioned grant program, The Washington Post reported Thursday. "They're just serving the communities in which they happen to live, which is what we want."

Gonzalez is not alone in his rare break with Trump on this issue; he is joined by Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), who has denounced "wasteful DEI spending"; Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), who praised cuts to DEI programs; Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), who openly condemned DEI practices; and three other House Republicans, all of whom had voiced opposition to DEI practices in the past.

The Republican lawmakers' plea to have the diversity grant program restored was met with deaf ears, however. When asked to comment on the matter, the White House referred questions from the Post to the Office of Management and Budget, which did not respond to the outlet's request for comment.