Meta, Amazon Scale Back Diversity Programs as Trump Readies Return

• Meta and Amazon scale back diversity programs amid growing conservative opposition.
• Meta ends DEI initiatives, including hiring and training programs, as part of broader changes.
• Amazon to phase out outdated representation and inclusion materials by 2024.

Meta Platforms, the owner of Facebook, and Amazon are scaling back their diversity initiatives ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, following growing conservative opposition to such programs.

Eko Hot Blog reports that in recent years, many of the nation’s largest corporations had ramped up their diversity efforts, particularly after the 2020 protests sparked by the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans.

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However, Meta is now halting its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which include hiring practices, training, and supplier selection, according to an internal memo shared with employees on Friday. This marks the latest in a series of moves welcomed by conservatives.

In addition, Meta has recently dismantled its U.S. fact-checking initiative, appointed Republican figure Joel Kaplan as its chief global affairs officer, and brought UFC CEO Dana White, a close ally of Trump, onto its board.

Amazon, in a memo shared with employees in December and seen by Reuters, announced it is “winding down outdated programs and materials” related to diversity and inclusion. The company plans to complete this process by the end of 2024.

Conservative groups have strongly criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, even threatening legal action against companies, following a 2023 US Supreme Court ruling that invalidated affirmative action in university admissions.

This week, Elon Musk and other Trump allies claimed that DEI initiatives had hampered wildfire response efforts in Los Angeles, despite a lack of supporting evidence.

In a memo obtained by Reuters and initially reported by Axios, Meta’s VP of Human Resources, Janelle Gale, acknowledged the evolving legal and policy landscape regarding DEI in the United States. She cited recent Supreme Court decisions signalling a shift in how courts will address such programs in the future.

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Gale noted that the term “DEI” has become increasingly controversial, as some view it as a practice that favours certain groups over others. As a result, Meta will dismantle its dedicated diversity and inclusion team, focusing instead on applying consistent, fair practices to reduce bias for all employees.

Meta will also discontinue its “diverse slate approach” to hiring, which had required the inclusion of candidates from diverse backgrounds for every open position.

The memo was met with disappointment from some employees, one of whom described it as “upsetting to read.”

Other major companies, including McDonald’s, Ford, Walmart, and John Deere, have also recently discontinued their DEI programs.

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