Meta Platforms and Amazon recently announced significant cutbacks to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, marking a notable shift in policies just ahead of Donald Trump's upcoming presidential term. This decision reflects a growing trend among major corporations responding to increasing conservative criticism of such initiatives, particularly in the wake of changing legal landscapes and recent Supreme Court rulings affecting affirmative action.

In an internal memo, Meta's Vice President of Human Resources Janelle Gale stated, "The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing." This strategic retreat aligns with similar actions taken by other large corporations, signifying a retreat from DEI initiatives that were initially bolstered following the widespread protests ignited by police violence against Black Americans in 2020.

Both companies have decided to eliminate their dedicated DEI teams and cease "equity and inclusion programs." Specifically, Meta will discontinue its "Diverse Slate Approach," which ensured a variety of candidates were considered for job positions. Instead, the tech giant plans to shift its focus towards consistent hiring practices without emphasizing one’s race or gender during recruitment. Gale emphasized this point by stating that "discrimination should not be tolerated or promoted on the basis of inherent characteristics."

This downstream effect of attenuating DEI programs follows critical remarks from conservative groups, who have threatened legal action against companies that maintain robust diversity initiatives. As noted in a recent report by The Hill, companies like Meta and Amazon face mounting pressure amidst legal changes and public sentiment that challenge the necessity of DEI frameworks.

The backlash is exemplified by comments from several conservative lawmakers, who praised the dismantling of these programs. Rep. Mike Collins commented that "the Woke Industrial Complex came to an end," expressing support for Meta's decision on social media platforms like X. Furthermore, Meta's recent elevation of Republican figure Joel Kaplan to a chief global affairs role has added to perceptions of a corporate pivot toward conservative values.

Amidst these changes, Meta recently lifted bans on certain types of content previously considered hate speech and discontinued its fact-checking initiatives aimed at moderating misinformation. In contrast, Amazon plans to conclude outdated DEI efforts by the end of 2024, redirecting focus toward reinforcing standard hiring practices that they believe naturally enhance team diversity without the structured DEI interventions that have come under fire.

The implications of these strategic shifts from major corporations could resonate throughout the tech and retail industries, as Meta and Amazon follow in the footsteps of other companies like Walmart, McDonald's, and others that have previously scaled back their diversity initiatives in recent months.

For more details, visit the articles on Al Jazeera and The Guardian.