Companies Who Abandoned Their DEI Programs

Which Companies Are Retreating on Inclusion?

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have become a cornerstone of many corporate cultures in recent years.

These programs aim to create more equitable workplaces, provide opportunities for underrepresented groups, and foster an inclusive environment.

However, many companies have scaled back or entirely dismantled their initiatives following political and conservative-led legal challenges—most notably Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI.

Below is a list of companies that have recently abandoned or scaled back their DEI programs, organized alphabetically, with the dates they made these changes.

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Companies Cutting Back DEI Initiatives

Accenture: The consulting firm ended global diversity goals and career development programs for specific demographic groups, citing compliance with U.S. executive orders. (Feb. 7, 2025)

Amazon: Amazon eliminated diversity hiring goals and unified employee resource groups under one umbrella, while omitting mentions of DEI from its annual report. (Jan. 10, 2025)

Bank of America: The bank stopped using "aspirational" diversity hiring targets and replaced terms like "diversity" with "talent" and "opportunity" in reports. (Feb. 25, 2025)

Boeing: The aerospace company disbanded its DEI department and moved those responsibilities to Human Resources. (Nov. 1, 2024)

Brown-Forman: The Jack Daniel’s manufacturer ended DEI-linked executive pay, workforce diversity goals, and participation in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) index. (Aug. 22, 2024)

Citigroup: Citigroup renamed its DEI team to "Talent Management and Engagement" and removed diversity hiring targets. (Feb. 20, 2025)

Coca-Cola: Coca-

Cola began removing DEI language from filings and prepared to comply with federal mandates against DEI programs. (Feb. 13, 2025)

Deloitte: The consulting firm instructed U.S. staff to remove pronouns from email signatures, ended diversity goals, and ceased issuing diversity reports. (Feb. 11, 2025)

Disney: Disney scrapped its “Reimagine Tomorrow” DEI website and shifted DEI performance metrics to focus on business outcomes. (Feb. 11, 2025)

Ford: Ford stopped participating in external diversity surveys and converted employee resource groups into mentorship-focused networks. (Aug. 28, 2024)

Goldman Sachs: The investment bank removed board diversity requirements for companies going public and dropped the term "diversity and inclusion" from company filings. (Feb. 27, 2025)

Google: Google discontinued DEI hiring goals and stopped marking cultural observances like Pride Month and Black History Month, citing scalability issues. (Feb. 5, 2025)

Harley-Davidson: The motorcycle company abandoned supplier diversity goals and ended its participation in HRC surveys. (Aug. 19, 2024)

John Deere: The agricultural equipment manufacturer ceased supporting cultural awareness events and audited training materials to remove socially motivated messages. (July 16, 2024)

Lowe’s: Lowe’s merged employee resource groups and halted sponsorships for external events like Pride parades. (Aug. 28, 2024)

McDonald’s: McDonald’s dropped diversity hiring targets and renamed its diversity team to the "Global Inclusion Team." (Jan. 6, 2025)

Meta: Meta ended equity training programs, representation goals, and supplier diversity efforts, citing legal and policy challenges. (Jan. 10, 2025)

Molson Coors: The brewer abandoned supplier diversity quotas and shifted DEI training to focus on business objectives. (Sept. 4, 2024)

Paramount: Paramount removed DEI language from its website and stopped using race or gender diversity targets in hiring. (Feb. 26, 2025)

PepsiCo: The company dropped representation goals, transitioned its Chief DEI Officer to focus on employee development, and shifted supplier diversity efforts to include all small businesses. (Feb. 20, 2025)

Target: Target ended racial hiring targets and its Racial Equity Action program, following backlash from both conservatives and progressives. (Jan. 24, 2025)

Warner Bros. Discovery: The company rebranded its DEI programs as “Inclusion,” ceased participating in diversity surveys, and promised to implement “uniform and consistent” hiring practices. (Feb. 27, 2025)

Walmart: Walmart wound down its $100 million Center for Racial Equity and stopped using terms like “DEI” in corporate communications. (Nov. 25, 2024)

Why This Matters

The rollback of DEI programs across corporate America isn’t just a retreat from progressive policies; it’s a stark reminder of how fragile commitments to equity and inclusion can be when faced with political and social pressure.

These decisions signal a troubling shift, where progress toward creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces is being systematically dismantled.

The long-term impact on underrepresented groups and the broader push for systemic change are at stake.

DEI programs have been vital in addressing inequality, fostering representation, and driving innovation through diverse perspectives.

Their removal raises critical questions: Are these rollbacks about legal compliance, or are corporations bowing to convenience and political expediency?

This moment matters because it’s about more than corporate policies—it’s about the values we choose to prioritize as a society.

The erosion of DEI initiatives threatens to undo years of hard-fought progress. It also serves as a rallying cry to support the fight for equity, inclusion, and systemic accountability.

A Brighter Perspective

While many corporations are scaling back, the mission for equality and inclusion is far from over.

Progress is often driven from the ground up, and grassroots efforts and individual advocacy remain powerful tools for change.

Even as companies retreat, the push for equitable workplaces continues to thrive in communities and organizations nationwide.

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Together, we can stay informed, spark conversations, and hold corporations accountable for their commitments to diversity and inclusion.

Sources

• Forbes: Warner Bros. Discovery Drops ‘Diversity’ And ‘Equity’ Language From DEI Initiatives: Here Are All The Companies Cutting DEI Programs (Feb 27, 2025)

• Raconteur: Which companies are rolling back DEI policies? (Feb 27, 2025)