Meta and Amazon are discontinuing their diversity programs, joining a wave of U.S. companies scaling back hiring and training initiatives criticized by conservatives, citing legal and political risks.
This decision follows Meta Platforms’ recent announcement to end a fact-checking program criticized by President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans. In a memo to staff, Meta attributed the decision to a “shifting legal and policy landscape,” affecting its hiring, supplier, and training efforts.
Walmart and McDonald’s have made similar adjustments to their diversity initiatives since Trump’s re-election.
Meta’s memo, reported by Axios and confirmed by the BBC, referenced a Supreme Court ruling on race in college admissions and noted that “DEI” (diversity, equity, and inclusion) had become a contentious term. While Meta will continue seeking diverse staff, it will end its current approach of selecting candidates from diverse pools.
Amazon, in a December memo, announced plans to phase out “outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion by the end of 2024. Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences, Candi Castleberry, emphasized a shift toward programs with proven outcomes and fostering a genuinely inclusive culture.
This trend is part of a broader retreat from diversity initiatives, as Republican criticism of companies like BlackRock and Disney for “woke” activism has intensified, with threats of political repercussions. Companies like Bud Light and Target have also faced backlash over efforts to appeal to LGBTQ customers.
Many of these diversity efforts were implemented following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests sparked by George Floyd’s murder. Recent court decisions have strengthened critics’ arguments that these programs are discriminatory. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down the right of private universities to consider race in admissions. Another court ruling invalidated a Nasdaq policy requiring companies to have at least one woman, racial minority, or LGBTQ person on their board or provide an explanation.
Meta is also ending its collaboration with diverse suppliers, shifting focus to small and medium-sized companies, and replacing “equity and inclusion” training with programs that address bias for all backgrounds. Meta declined to comment on the memo, which drew both criticism and praise.
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck expressed satisfaction, while LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign highlighted the business benefits of workplace inclusion and criticized companies abandoning these commitments as neglecting their responsibilities.
Meta’s decision coincides with its cessation of a fact-checking program and the promotion of conservatives to key leadership roles. In an interview with Joe Rogan, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussed the challenges of being a “truth” arbiter, citing increased demands to remove content during the Biden administration, particularly regarding vaccine side effects. He criticized the U.S. government’s pressure on tech companies, suggesting it undermines the industry globally.
