As conservative lawmakers around the country call for divestment from diversity, equity and inclusion programs, some companies are making cuts to their DEI teams.
DEI has been a hot button topic as the 2024 presidential race unfolds. New Republican VP elect, JD Vance has openly opposed DEI, proposing bills to deconstruct federal DEI programs just last month. What’s the driving force? State legislatures, including those in Utah, Florida and Texas have given the OK to DEI bans in high education. Working in tandem is the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action programs in college admissions.
Corporate giants rushed to improve diversity and inclusion programs following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, which led to protests and calls for new legislation during a rise in the Black Lives Matter movement. At the time, Microsoft committed to doubling their number of Black leaders by 2025, Pink News reports.
However, it seems that companies no longer feel accountable for continuing to fund DEI programs and employees. CNBC reported that Google and Meta, which have each monopolized popular smartphone apps and tech platforms, reduced their DEI programs in 2023.
Reports from The Washington Post, also found that Tesla, DoorDash, Lyft, Home Depot, Wayfair and X also made cuts to their DEI teams by 50% or more.
