President Donald Trump’s aggressive moves to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the federal level are reverberating throughout the corporate world. On his first day back in office, Trump signed executive orders targeting DEI programs in government, calling them “public waste” and mandating that all federal DEI staff be placed on paid leave pending termination. A federal judge has temporarily blocked aspects of the orders, but their impact is already evident in both the public and private sectors.
Federal agencies have begun rolling back DEI programs, with the FBI shutting down its DEI office in December 2024 and Trump’s new Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, overseeing the dismissal of military leaders supporting diversity initiatives. The White House reinforced its stance with a social media post declaring, “DEI is dead under the Trump Administration.”
Private companies are swiftly following suit. PepsiCo announced an end to its DEI workforce representation goals, a decision that contrasts with Coca-Cola’s continued commitment to gender and racial diversity targets. Disney is phasing out its “Reimagine Tomorrow” initiative and content disclaimers addressing cultural stereotypes. PBS cited Trump’s executive order as the reason for ceasing DEI initiatives and parting ways with key diversity staff.
Major financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase have scaled back diversity efforts, with JPMorgan Chase noting in its annual report that it expects ongoing public criticism over its DEI practices. Tech giants are also making adjustments. Google eliminated diversity hiring goals, while Meta disbanded its DEI team and inclusive hiring programs. Amazon removed DEI references from its corporate materials and annual report, and Boeing dismantled its DEI team in late 2024.
Retailers like Target, Walmart, and Lowe’s have likewise rolled back DEI initiatives. Target halted diversity hiring goals and external DEI reporting, while Walmart discontinued diversity training and LGBTQ+ merchandise offerings. Lowe’s cited the Supreme Court’s ruling against affirmative action as a factor in its decision.
Other companies scaling back DEI include McDonald’s, which retired its supplier diversity pledge, and Harley-Davidson, which ended diversity programs and supplier spending goals.
As DEI initiatives continue to face political and legal challenges, businesses across industries are recalibrating their diversity strategies, with many opting to shift focus toward broader inclusion efforts tied to business performance.
