Overview

• The US Embassy in Berlin has sent letters to about two dozen German companies, urging them to distance themselves from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• German Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Ferda Ataman has criticized the US demands as an 'invitation to break the law,' referencing Germany's General Equal Treatment Act.
• German businesses and trade organizations, including the DIHK, have reaffirmed their commitment to diversity as essential for innovation, productivity, and compliance with national laws.
• The Trump administration’s global campaign against DEI programs has also targeted companies in France and Spain, drawing widespread condemnation from European governments.
• Calls are growing for the German government to take a firm stance against perceived US interference in domestic anti-discrimination policies.