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3mo ago

Major U.S. Corporations Scale Back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs

A wave of corporate rollbacks on DEI initiatives follows legal, political, and social pressures, including actions by President Trump’s administration.

FILE - Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
FILE - A community member holds a sign calling for a national boycott of Target stores during a news conference outside Target Corporation's headquarters Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt, File)
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Overview

  • Prominent companies such as PepsiCo, Google, and Target have announced significant reductions or eliminations of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
  • The Supreme Court's 2023 ruling against affirmative action and President Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI have influenced many corporate decisions to reassess these initiatives.
  • Critics of DEI argue such programs are discriminatory, while companies cite evolving legal landscapes and business priorities as reasons for the changes.
  • Several companies, including Meta, McDonald’s, and Walmart, have shifted focus to broader employee engagement or business performance metrics, often retiring specific diversity goals.
  • Despite the trend, some organizations like Costco and Delta Airlines continue to defend and maintain their DEI commitments, citing business and cultural benefits.