As part of one of Trump’s executive orders, DEI programs are dialing back nationwide!
Quite a few US companies have begun scaling back or changing their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in recent months. This seems to be a trend that has amplified following President Donald Trump’s executive order to disassemble federal DEI programs.
For some businesses, the rollback on DEI policies was linked to the US Supreme Court decision in the beginning of summer 2023, which ended affirmative action in college admissions. Other companies received pushback from some conservative consumers, both online and in person.
So, with all this mess, we’ve decided to shed some Light On Politics for our readers to better understand what’s going on. Let’s talk about 5 major brands that are dialing back on their DEI programs.
What EXACTLY is DEI, and who benefits from it?
In recent years, especially since the Black Lives Matter movement protests picked up following the death of George Floyd in 2020, DEI has blossomed across the nation. Many businesses have implemented training to identify biases, diverse hiring practices, mentorship programs for underrepresented groups, or transparent promotion criteria. DEI programs strive to create fair environments in education, workplaces, and institutions.
Managing systemic discrimination and inequalities, they motivate the participation and representation of individuals of different races, genders, abilities, and other identity markers. The Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging emphasizes that DEI is about “creating a level playing field for everyone.”
Besides moral reasons, Glasgow says there’s also a business case to be made for DEI guidelines. Studies show that tapping into a broader range of talent leads to more creativity and innovation. Also, it has the potential to help companies reach a more diverse consumer base.
What’s Trump’s role in DEI programs?
On his first day back in the Oval Office, Donald Trump signed executive orders calling for eliminating government diversity programs and removing all federal offices and jobs related to DEI. Trump has pressured the private sector to nullify DEI policies as well.
The president has also issued an order to terminate funding for schools that support critical race theory, which is an academic framework most often taught in law schools that rests on the premise that racial bias, whether intentional or not, is baked into US laws and institutions.
Trump and his allies have declared that DEI unfairly discriminates against other Americans, including men and white individuals, and weakens the importance of merit in job promotion or hiring.
“My administration has taken action to abolish all discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion nonsense, and these are policies that were absolute nonsense throughout the government and the private sector,” Trump told the World Economic Forum after taking office last month.
What do civil rights advocates have to say about DEI programs?
Civil rights advocates agree that DEI efforts help inspire marginalized groups and address the continued impacts of generational and historical inequity.
-Volker Turk, the United Nations’ top human rights official, says that diversity isn’t a threat and should be treasured.
-The American Civil Liberties Union says DEI programs aren’t discriminatory. “They’re essential to creating environments where everyone has a chance to succeed and addressing persistent barriers for individuals to advance in their careers,” the ACLU stated.
… So now that we’ve covered the importance of these initiatives, here’s a list of major brands who seem to be dropping their support of DEI programs
Target
In January 2025, Target announced suspending its DEI programs, including the “Belonging at the Bullseye” strategy and the Racial Equity Action and Change program. This determination aligns with directives from the federal government under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has called for the termination of DEI programs.
This major brand’s move has been slammed by supporters who argue that it could alienate the company’s diverse consumer base. “Many years of data, insights, listening, and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Target’s chief community impact and equity officer wrote.
“And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.”
Amazon
Amazon has recently reduced its DEI endeavors, citing political and legal challenges. The company has faced tension from conservative activists and shifts in the regulatory environment, which led to a reassessment of its diversity programs.
In December 2024, senior HR executive Candi Castleberry told employees that Amazon would be “winding down outdated programs and materials, and we aim to complete that by the end of 2024.” “We also know there will always be individuals or teams who continue to do well-intentioned things that don’t align with our company-wide approach, and we might not always see those right away.
But we’ll keep at it,” she wrote. “Rather than ‘have individual groups build programs,’ Castleberry said, Amazon is ‘focusing on programs with proven outcomes – and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture.'”
McDonald’s
Just last month, McDonald’s disclosed a reduction in its DEI programs, including scaling back on diversity training programs and discontinuing specific employee resource groups. This conclusion aligns with a more general trend among corporations rethinking their DEI commitments in response to social and political pressures.
The company stated that the shift aims to simplify operations and concentrate on core business objectives. After only four years of pushing for more diversity, the fast-food colossus “will retire specific goals for achieving diversity at senior leadership levels.
It also intends to end a program that encourages its suppliers to develop diversity training and to increase the number of minority group members represented within their own leadership ranks.”
Ford
CEO Jim Farley sent a memo to the automaker’s employees in August of last year summarizing modifications to the company’s DEI programs, including a decision to cease participating in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index. Ford, he wrote, had been analyzing its policies for a year.
The company doesn’t tie compensation to specific diversity goals or use hiring quotas but stays committed to “fostering a safe and inclusive workplace,” Farley declared.
“We will continue to put our effort and resources into taking care of our customers, our team, and our communities versus publicly commenting on the many polarizing issues of the day,” the memo expressed.
Boeing
In November of last year, Boeing disassembled its DEI team due to external pressures. The company faced criticism over its diversity guidelines, leading to a decision to scale back on specific initiatives. Many believe that Elon Musk helped bully the corporation into its changes on social media, writing, “Do you want to fly in an airplane where they prioritized DEI hiring over your safety? That is actually happening.”
Sara Liang Bowen, who led the company’s DEI program, left Boeing and shared a LinkedIn farewell post, stating: “The team achieved so much, sometimes imperfectly, never easily, and dreamed of doing much more still.
It has been the privilege of my lifetime to lead Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Boeing company these past 5 years. Our team strived every day to support the evolving brilliance and creativity of our workforce.”
For more on Donald Trump’s executive orders, check out: America First: The 2025 Trump Administration Week-By-Week Actions Volume I
What are your thoughts on these companies cutting back on their DEI programs? Let us know in the comments section below.
But don’t leave yet! If you love politics as much as we do, we also recommend reading: 6 Shocking Executive Orders Trump Signed on Day 1
