Sat Jan 11 03:58:15 IST 2025: **Major Corporations Scale Back Diversity Initiatives Amid Conservative Backlash**
NEW YORK – Meta and Amazon are the latest major corporations to curtail their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, citing shifting legal landscapes and growing conservative opposition. The move comes just weeks before the anticipated return of former President Donald Trump to the White House and follows a Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action.
Internal memos reveal Meta is completely eliminating its DEI programs, encompassing hiring, training, and supplier selection. The company’s decision follows other recent actions perceived favorably by conservatives, including the termination of its US fact-checking program and key appointments to leadership. Amazon, similarly, is “winding down outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion, aiming for completion by the end of 2024.
Conservative groups have actively denounced DEI initiatives, even threatening lawsuits, emboldened by the Supreme Court’s decision. The criticism has intensified recently, with prominent figures like Elon Musk linking DEI programs to inefficiencies in emergency response, although lacking evidence.
Meta’s internal memo acknowledged the changing legal and political climate, citing Supreme Court rulings and the increasingly contentious nature of the term “DEI.” The company stated it will shift to a focus on “fair and consistent practices” that mitigate bias, abandoning its “diverse slate approach” to hiring. The decision has been met with internal employee discontent.
This trend extends beyond Meta and Amazon. Other companies, including McDonald’s, Ford, Walmart, and John Deere, have also recently scaled back or eliminated their DEI programs, marking a significant shift in corporate approaches to diversity and inclusion in the US.
First Piper 