Meta, Amazon nix diversity, inclusion programmes ahead of Trump term

In response to growing conservative opposition to such initiatives, Facebook’s owner Meta Platforms and Amazon are phasing out diversity initiatives ahead of Republican Donald Trump’s re-election as president.

In response to the protests that followed the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans in 2020, some of the largest US businesses have been rescheduling their diversity initiatives.

Meta is ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, including those for hiring, training and picking suppliers, it said in an internal memo to employees on Friday – the latest in a series of actions cheered by conservatives.

In less than two weeks, Meta has&nbsp, scrapped its US fact-checking programme, &nbsp, elevated prominent Republican Joel Kaplan&nbsp, to be its chief global affairs officer&nbsp, and&nbsp, elected&nbsp, Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and close friend of Trump, &nbsp, to its board.

Amazon, in a December memo to employees seen by Reuters on Friday, said it was “winding down outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion, aiming to complete the process by the end of 2024.

“Signing a shift”

A 2023 US Supreme Court decision that downheld affirmative action in university admissions decisions has fueled the protests and spurred conservative groups to file lawsuits against businesses for them.

Just this week, Elon Musk and other Trump allies&nbsp, blamed DEI programmes&nbsp, for hindering the response to raging wildfires in Los Angeles, without evidence.

In the memo, which was seen by Reuters and first reported by Axios, Janelle Gale, vice president of human resources at Meta, stated that “the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing.”

Recent Supreme Court decisions “signaling a shift” in how US courts will handle DEI programs,” Gale said.

“Dei” has also become controversial, in part because some people view it as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others,” she wrote.

In practice, this means Meta will no longer have a diversity and inclusion team, and the company said it will instead “focus on applying fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for all, regardless of your background.”

The business will also discontinue its “diverse slate approach,” which allows candidates from a wide range to be taken into account for all open positions.

Gale’s memo was described as “upsetting to read,” according to one employee’s comment.

Other companies that have ended DEI programmes recently include McDonald’s, automaker Ford, Walmart and farm equipment maker, John Deere.