Youngkin names Heritage Foundation policy expert, CRT opponent Angela Sailor as new diversity and inclusion department head

"The people of Virginia elected the most diverse leadership in the Commonwealth’s history. Virginia is big enough for the hopes and dreams of a diverse people. Angela Sailor’s experience in government, nonprofits and the private sector will guide us as we ensure that the government is working for all Virginians across our diverse Commonwealth, especially when it comes to economic opportunity for all Virginians. In addition, I will introduce and support legislation to change the name of the office to the Diversity, Opportunity and Inclusion Office," said Youngkin in a press release.

Sailer most recently served as Vice President of The Feulner Institute at The Heritage Foundation, Chief of Staff to Heritage's President Kay Coles James and public member of the Senior Foreign Service Selection Board for the United States Department of State.

Over the summer, Sailor penned a piece titled, "Schools Hiding Behind Diversity and Inclusion Rhetoric to Spew Critical Race Theory Vile," blasting the teaching of critical race theory, a key issue spearheaded by Youngkin's campaign.

According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, all members of the office leftover from former Gov. Northam's leadership, who created the office in response to his blackface scandal, were asked not to return, effectively clearing house.

In addition to naming Sailor to the post, Youngkin announced that the department would drop equity from its title, replacing it with opportunity.

"Governor Youngkin also issued Executive Order #10, designating Sailor as a member of his cabinet as the Commonwealth Chief Diversity, Opportunity & Inclusion Officer with a stronger and more focused role on promoting ideas, policies, and economic opportunities for disadvantaged Virginians, including Virginians living with disabilities and bringing Virginians of different faiths together," the press release stated.

Youngkin moved to tackle critical race theory teachings on day one of his term, signing an executive order that ends the use of "inherently divisive concepts," which includes critical race theory teachings in schools.

"Political indoctrination has no place in our classrooms. The vast majority of learning in our schools involves imparting critical knowledge and skills in math, science, history, reading and other areas that should be non-controversial. Inherently divisive concepts, like Critical Race Theory and its progeny, instruct students to only view life through the lens of race and presumes that some students are consciously or unconsciously racist, sexist, or oppressive, and that other students are victims," the executive order states.

"This denies our students the opportunity to gain important facts, core knowledge, formulate their own opinions, and to think for themselves. Our children deserve far better from their education than to be told what to think," it continued.