Meta and Amazon axe diversity initiatives joining US corporate rollback
4 min read
Meta and Amazon are scaling back their diversity initiatives, following a broader trend among major companies in the United States that are re-evaluating or dismantling programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These moves come amid increasing legal and political pressures from conservatives who criticize such programs, with the companies citing changing legal frameworks as a key reason for their decisions.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced that it would discontinue its diversity-focused hiring, supplier, and training initiatives, as part of a broader reevaluation of its internal programs. In a memo to staff, Meta referred to a “shifting legal and policy landscape” as a significant factor influencing the decision. The company pointed to a recent Supreme Court ruling on race-based college admissions and the increasing politicization of DEI efforts, especially the term “DEI,” which has become a point of contention. While Meta emphasized that it would continue seeking diverse talent, the company clarified that it would no longer approach its hiring process with the specific aim of selecting from a diverse pool of candidates, as it had done previously.
The decision is part of a wider corporate retreat from diversity initiatives, which gained momentum following the racial justice protests in 2020 after George Floyd’s murder. Meta’s decision comes in the wake of a similar move by Amazon, which announced plans to wind down its own diversity programs by the end of 2024. In a memo, Amazon’s Vice President of Inclusive Experiences and Technology, Candi Castleberry, stated that the company would focus on initiatives with proven outcomes rather than individual groups building their own programs. Amazon’s shift reflects a growing sentiment within corporate America to reduce the scope of diversity and inclusion efforts, often in response to political pressures and the evolving legal landscape.
Walmart and McDonald’s have also made similar decisions to cut back on diversity-focused initiatives in recent months. Meanwhile, financial giants like JPMorgan Chase and BlackRock have distanced themselves from groups focused on climate change risks, reflecting the broader retreat from progressive causes that has intensified in the past two years.
This shift is partly due to heightened criticism from conservative politicians and activists, particularly after the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Critics of diversity programs argue that they are discriminatory and unfair, citing legal decisions that have bolstered their claims. Notably, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that private universities cannot consider race in their admissions decisions. Similarly, a court of appeals invalidated a Nasdaq rule requiring companies listed on the exchange to have at least one woman, racial minority, or LGBTQ individual on their boards or explain why not.
Meta’s decision also reflects a broader trend in tech, following controversy over its fact-checking program, which was criticized by former President Donald Trump and Republicans. In a move that seemed to align with right-wing criticisms, Meta decided to end its fact-checking efforts and appointed more conservatives to key leadership positions. This came shortly after CEO Mark Zuckerberg publicly expressed concerns about the company’s role in policing information, particularly during the pandemic when the company faced pressure to censor content related to vaccine side effects.
In an interview with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg admitted that he had struggled with the issue of content moderation and acknowledged that the company was unprepared for the demands placed on it after the 2016 election. He explained that under the Biden administration, the pressure to remove certain types of content, such as claims about the pandemic and vaccine side effects, became overwhelming. Zuckerberg expressed that the political backlash had caused him to reevaluate Meta’s policies, emphasizing his belief that the U.S. government should protect its tech companies rather than attack them, which he argued created a vulnerability in the global market.
The decision by Meta and Amazon to scale back their diversity and inclusion efforts has been met with both support and criticism. Conservative voices, such as activist Robby Starbuck, have hailed the move, claiming success in their campaigns against corporate “wokeness.” On the other hand, advocates for workplace inclusion, such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), argue that such policies are essential for attracting and retaining top talent and driving long-term business growth. RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, HRC’s senior director of Workplace Equality, warned that companies abandoning these commitments are failing in their responsibility to employees, customers, and shareholders.
The moves by these corporate giants signal a shift in the priorities of American businesses, with an increasing number of companies reevaluating their approach to diversity initiatives amidst political and legal pressures. As the debate over diversity, equity, and inclusion continues to unfold, the future of such programs in corporate America remains uncertain, with many companies caught between competing demands for social responsibility and political expediency.
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