In 2020, the racial reckoning sparked by the murder of George Floyd led corporations to make sweeping promises about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Many pledged millions of dollars, launched new initiatives, and vowed to create meaningful change. Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, and we’re seeing a troubling trend: a significant rollback of those same DEI initiatives.
For some companies, what was once touted as a commitment to equity and representation has now been deprioritized. These decisions not only undo progress but also raise critical questions about the sincerity of corporate pledges. Below, we’ve compiled a list of notable companies that have scaled back or entirely dissolved their DEI efforts in recent years.
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1. Target
Target announced the conclusion of its DEI goals, citing an evolving external landscape and increased legal threats under President Trump's administration. The company plans to cease external diversity-related surveys and re-evaluate corporate partnerships to align with growth objectives. Target began scaling back its DEI efforts in mid-2024. At that time, the decision came after the company faced backlash from certain consumer groups and legal challenges following the cultural controversy surrounding its LGBTQ+ Pride merchandise in stores. Target decided to minimize risks by reducing public-facing DEI initiatives and re-evaluating corporate partnerships.
2. Walmart Inc.
Walmart made adjustments to its DEI strategy during the second half of 2024 but has now curtailed its diversity efforts, aligning with a broader corporate trend of re-evaluating DEI initiatives. The company aimed to reduce the potential for divisive public opinion and legal exposure in states that have implemented anti-DEI legislation. Walmart chose to redirect efforts toward initiatives that emphasize merit-based hiring and internal talent development.
3. Meta Platforms Inc.
Meta began scaling back its DEI investments incrementally in 2023 and 2024. The company has limited progress in promoting workplace diversity, with marginal increases in female representation. The company faced criticism for limited results despite years of effort, especially in achieving diverse leadership representation.
4. McDonald's Corporation
McDonald's has rolled back some of its DEI programs, influenced by external pressures and legal challenges. The company released a statement early January stating it is sunsetting its specific diversity goals, including requiring its suppliers to commit to certain DEI targets. And it will stop participating in external surveys that measure corporate diversity.
McDonald’s is also changing the name of its diversity team to the Global Inclusion Team — a common practice for many other companies that have rolled back diversity pledges.
5. Ford Motor Company
Ford reduced its DEI programs and policies in August of 2024, including ending its relationship with the Human Rights Campaign. The company is re-evaluating its diversity programs in response to external pressures and has clarified that it does not use “hiring quotas” or link compensation to “the achievement of specific diversity goals.”
6. John Deere
John Deere announced it would no longer sponsor "social or cultural awareness" events and would audit all its training materials. This move is part of a broader re-evaluation of its DEI initiatives. John Deere's July 16, 2024, statement confirmed several pivotal changes: The ending of participation in external social or cultural awareness events, including parades and festivals. Refocusing of Business Resource Groups (BRGs) solely on professional development, networking, mentoring, and talent recruitment.
7. Lowe's Companies, Inc.
In August of 2024, Lowe's Companies, Inc. announced that it is scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This includes ending participation in the Human Rights Campaign's annual workplace inclusion survey and limiting its sponsorship to business-related issues.
8. Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Harley-Davidson has rolled back some of its DEI initiatives, after facing pressure online from Robby Starbuck, a conservative activist who has taken on DEI policies at several American companies. The company stated it would end its relationship with the Human Rights Campaign, a leading LGBTQ+ advocacy group and added, “we have not operated a DEI function since April 2024, and we do not have a DEI function today. We do not have hiring quotas and we no longer have supplier diversity spend goals.”
9. Jack Daniel’s Owner - Brown-Forman Corporation
Brown-Forman, the corporation that owns Jack Daniels and a suite of lesser known spirit brands has reduced its DEI initiatives. In August of 2024, Brown-Forman said it will take steps as part of a new strategic framework to ensure “executive incentives and employee goals are tied to business performance, removing our quantitative workforce and supplier diversity ambitions..”
The company also announced that it was pulling out of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Commission’s Corporate Equality Index.
10. Molson Coors Beverage Company
In September 2024, Molson Coors, the corporation that owns a suite of beer brands including Coors, Miller, Blue Moon and more announced plans to ditch its DEI initiatives. The company plans to cut supplier diversity quotas and DEI-based training programs, and sever ties with the Corporate Equality Index of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign.
11. Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota joined the growing list of corporations cutting their DEI policies in October of 2024. The automaker no longer sponsors LGBTQ+ events and plans to “narrow our community activities to align with STEM education and workforce readiness.” The company will also cut back on other DEI initiatives and programming, and will no longer participate in the Corporate Equality Index.
12. Boeing Co.
In October 2024, Boeing dismantled its DEI team. While Boeing’s workforce has traditionally skewed white and male, the corporation promised to increase opportunities for under-represented workers, including Black employees, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in 2020. As part of that effort, the company pledged to increase overall Black employment by 20% by 2025. Boeing was already closing in on that goal last year, as Black employment rose to 7.5% in 2023 — a 17% increase, according to data reported to the US federal government. This new update will put an end to this progress.
13. Nissan Motor Co.
Nissan scaled back its DEI policies in December of 2024 after pressure from “anti-woke activist.” The automaker’s US-based unit will stop funding Pride events and cancel its hiring and promotion quotas for diverse applicants
These developments reflect a significant shift in corporate America's approach to DEI initiatives, influenced by political changes, legal challenges, and external pressures. This is our time to continue speaking up and supporting brands that employ and support our community. As Martin Luther King Jr stated during his “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop” speech, do not shop, where you are not hired.
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