Emmer Condemns MET Council’s DEI Practices

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Emmer sent a letter to the Metropolitan (MET) Council to express his opposition to the Council's proposal to use Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in awarding transportation funding in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, including Carver and Anoka counties.

The Metropolitan Council's 2026 Federal Funding Solicitation Guidance includes a "Community Consideration" component when deciding which transportation project receives funding, including federal funds. This "Community Consideration" is DEI in disguise and appears to be in violation of federal guidelines that require funds to be awarded based on merit, not arbitrary DEI standards. Additionally, the MET Council declined a county's request for the U.S. Department of Transportation to review the criteria to ensure federal compliance.

"DEI should not be considered when determining funding for transportation projects," said Congressman Emmer. "The MET Council's 'Community Consideration' is completely against the Trump administration's federal guidelines and has the potential to put Minnesota's federal funding in jeopardy."

Background

The Metropolitan (MET) Council is a policy-making board of 17 members appointed by the governor. The Council oversees the planning of communities, housing, parks, transportation, wastewater, and water in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Their work covers 181 cities and townships and seven counties, including Anoka and Carver counties, which are a part of the Sixth Congressional District.

The MET Council has supported the Northstar Commuter Rail Line and the Blue Line Light Rail Extension - two projects Congressman Emmer has vehemently opposed as irresponsible uses of taxpayer funds. Congressman Emmer and the rest of Minnesota's Republican Congressional delegation have led the charge to oppose funding for these projects by sending letters to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) in 2025 and 2026.

With the MET Council's long history of supporting wasteful projects and pushing a political agenda, Congressman Emmer is committed to sounding the alarm on their actions and holding the Council responsible.

You can read the letter sent to the Metropolitan Council in its entirety here.

###