Fri Jan 10 21:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Meta Scraps Diversity Programs Amid Shifting Legal Landscape
**MENLO PARK, CA** – Meta has announced the dismantling of several internal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, citing a changing legal and policy landscape. The move, revealed in an internal memo from VP of People Janelle Gale, includes the termination of the company’s Diverse Slate Approach, diversity supplier program, and equity and inclusion training. The company’s DEI team is also being disbanded, with Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams transitioning to a new role focused on accessibility and engagement.
The decision has sparked internal criticism, with employees questioning the company’s commitment to its stated values. One employee comment, garnering over 600 reactions, stated that “If you don’t stand by your principles when things get difficult, they aren’t values. They’re hobbies.”
Gale’s memo attributed the changes to recent Supreme Court decisions and a perceived shift in how courts will approach DEI initiatives. The memo emphasizes Meta’s commitment to serving everyone through cognitively diverse teams, but clarifies that this will be achieved without preferential treatment based on protected characteristics. Meta maintains its dedication to building a diverse workforce while adhering to evolving legal interpretations of DEI.
This latest policy shift follows other recent changes at Meta, including the replacement of its global affairs head and the termination of its third-party fact-checking program. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the impact of these changes.
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