Meta and Amazon are scaling back key elements of their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, according to reports from Axios and Bloomberg. The changes come at a time of increasing scrutiny over DEI initiatives in corporate America, following the US Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling on racial affirmative action and shifting public sentiment.
In an internal memo obtained by Axios, Meta outlined its decision to disband its dedicated DEI team. Maxine Williams, Meta’s chief diversity officer, will transition to a new role focused on “accessibility and engagement.” The company is also ending its Diverse Slate Approach, a hiring strategy introduced in 2015 aimed at ensuring underrepresented candidates were considered for open positions. Additionally, Meta will suspend its supplier diversity program, opting instead to focus on sourcing from small and medium-sized businesses.
Meta has also been making broader operational changes. The decision to scale back DEI initiatives follows the company’s recent move to end its third-party fact-checking program in the US, replacing it with a “community-driven” system called Community Notes, and a shift toward recommending more political content to users in the United States.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reports that Amazon is also “winding down outdated programs” related to DEI. In a memo to employees, Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s vice president of global diversity, equity, and inclusion, said: “Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes – and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture.”
Amazon did not specify which programs are being discontinued but indicated that the changes will take effect by the end of 2025. The memo also acknowledged the controversy surrounding DEI, noting: “The term ‘DEI’ has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others.”
Meta’s memo cited legal considerations in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision on racial affirmative action as a factor in its decision-making. Legal experts have speculated that this ruling may lead to increased legal risks for companies implementing race-based diversity programs.
Both companies’ moves reflect a broader trend among corporations reevaluating their DEI strategies in response to legal, financial, and cultural pressures.
Earlier this week global fast food chain McDonalds revealed that it would be dialling down its DEI policy switching its focus from diversity targets to fostering inclusion, retiring representation goals and pausing external surveys, following a comprehensive review of its policies.