Familiar meme

The program, launched to bring racial equity to construction hiring, was considered "untouchable," employees told investigators. Questioning it, even when it went so off-track it was giving free classes to pet groomers and hairstylists, could get you branded a racist.

How many times have we seen that same baseless tactic used defending corrupt loser policies when concerned opponents want to question those same policies?
Concerned over Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac finances, that's racist!
Oppose or question Obama., Your racist!
Oppose the stimulus bill, that's racist!
Oppose Obamacare, your racist!
Like or a member of the Tea Party, you are definitely racist!

It goes on and on with too many to list. This tactic of labeling your opponent whether racist or some other flaming tag is part of the bullying system, so you don't have to address the real issues. If I hear the race card being played or some other derogatory labeling it means they probably don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to debating the issue. Notice how the call for "civility" has yet to materialize among the same party who championed for it.

As to 'why did we even have this program', it's called featherbedding. You can bet they got more than one vote for giving that person a job to help secure everybody's position.