DE&I: Pushing back on the pushback
CWS 3.0 - Contingent Workforce Strategies
DE&I: Pushing back on the pushback

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With a new administration now in the White House, the pressure to curtail DE&I programs is intensifying. But while additional organizations could still join the exodus, others are standing firm in commitment to an equitable and inclusive workplace.
“It’s deeply concerning to see companies like Meta and McDonald’s rolling back their DE&I initiatives, as it sends a disheartening message to employees and communities who have long fought for equity and inclusion,” Omni Inclusive CEO Perry Charlton told CWS 3.0. “These decisions create disengaged and less diverse talent pools, stifling innovation and limiting adaptability.”
“In contrast, companies like Costco and Apple demonstrate that standing firm in their commitment to DE&I fosters resilience, inclusivity and stronger workforce strategies,” Charlton said. “Diversity in the contingent workforce is not just a moral imperative — it’s an essential driver of innovation, growth and long-term success. Abandoning these efforts now undermines progress and jeopardizes the future of equitable work environments.”
Trump Moves Quickly to Shutter DE&I Programs
Despite glimmers of opposition, the move to quell diversity and inclusion efforts has strong proponents with the new administration.
President Trump in his first days in office signed executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. A policy memo from the Office of Personnel Management on Jan. 21 issued a memo enacting the orders.
Investors Question Walmart Move
In November 2024, Walmart joined large organizations such as Molson Coors, Ford Motor Co. and Lowe’s Cos. in rolling back its initiatives after being targeted by conservative activist Robby Starbuck.
However, a group of long-term Walmart shareholders on Jan.14 sent a letter to Walmart CEO Doug McMillon voicing their disappointment regarding the recent announcement. The letter was organized by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a coalition that seeks to influence corporate behavior, and the shareholders represent $266 billion in funds.
“Seeing the company retreat from its stated values and the business opportunities associated with a diverse and inclusive workforce is very disheartening,” the investors wrote. “Additionally, Walmart has not offered a financial or business case for this change in policy.”
“From both a moral and a financial perspective, it is extremely disappointing to see Walmart roll back its commitment to advancing DEI within its workforce and operations,” Caroline Boden of Mercy Investment Services, principal author of the letter and one of its 31 signatories, said in a press release. “DEI initiatives aren’t just ‘nice to have,’ they are essential to breaking down the systemic inequities hindering our economy and preventing society from fully thriving. Inequity is bad for business and, ultimately, investors.”
The letter coincides with another sent by a coalition of 14 attorneys general urging Walmart to reconsider its DE&I announcement, CBS News reported.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion policies are critical tools for preventing discrimination and addressing historic injustices against minorities and other marginalized groups,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, one of the AGs signing the letter, said in a statement. “When major companies roll back their commitments to these efforts, they signal to smaller businesses that it is acceptable to do the same, creating a ripple effect that inflicts lasting harm across our State and nation.”
More Firms Plan DE&I Cuts
Amazon, Meta and McDonald’s are among the organizations retreating from DE&I. Bloomberg reported on the following:
Meta. In a move some pundits view as a way to garner favor from the Trump administration, Meta Platforms is disbanding many of its diversity and inclusion efforts, telling employees in a memo that they will no longer be required to interview candidates from underrepresented backgrounds for open roles or look to do business with diverse suppliers.
Meta also this month updated its policies around what kind of content could be removed from its sites. According to Bloomberg, these changes included new provisions allowing its users to at times wield insulting language “when discussing transgender rights, immigration or homosexuality” as well as to argue for gender or sexual orientation-based limitations on military, law enforcement and teaching jobs. The new policy also removed protections against language that describes women as “household objects or property” as well as dehumanizing language focused on Black, transgender and non-binary people.
Amazon. Amazon.com also halted some of its diversity and inclusion programs, Bloomberg reported. In a December 2024 memo to employees, Candi Castleberry, a senior human resources executive, said that Amazon was “winding down outdated programs and materials” as part of a review of hundreds of initiatives, including ones that had completed their work. The team expected to complete the consolidation by the end of 2024.
“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,” wrote Castleberry, Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology. Her prior title, VP of global diversity, equity and inclusion, changed with the name of the organization in 2023.
McDonald’s. McDonald’s also changed its diversity strategy this month. In a post on its website, the company stated it is “retiring setting aspirational representation goals” and will instead focus on “continuing to embed inclusion practices that grow our business into our everyday process and operations.” It will also retire a DE&I pledge in its supply chain “in favor of a more integrated discussion with suppliers about inclusion as it relates to business performance.” Additionally, the company renamed its diversity team to the global inclusion team.
Chad Douglas, founding partner at Primary Talent Partners, views the firms’ cutbacks as an excuse for poor performance at their programs and an “opportunity to bail on a failed program.”
“I think that their disengaging is a cop-out because what they did and the performative measures that they had put in place were failing, and they didn’t accomplish their goals,” Douglas told CWS 3.0. “So instead of continuing down that path, they’re just disengaging. I think they’re looking at the political climate as an easy opportunity to disengage from failed performative actions.”
He also believes DE&I leaders put in place at organizations following the George Floyd killing and Black Lives Matter movement were not provided the influence to fully develop successful programs.
I think it’s an opportunity to bail on a failed program, Douglas said. “They never gave these DE&I people any teeth to begin with. They didn’t give them any authority, or very little authority, to make change. So I think it’s a cop out, I think it’s a 100% cop out.”
That said, he believes contingent workforce leaders with passion for the concept will always strive to implement certain DE&I measures in their programs.
“But I think it was always like that, he adds. “I believe you had to find individuals that cared. And I don’t that’s going to change, I think that’ll remain the same.”
Apple, Costco Stand Firm
The boards of Apple and Costco Wholesale recently recommended that investors reject shareholder proposals from the National Center for Public Policy Research that asked the companies to publish reports on the risk of their DE&I programs or eliminate them completely.
Costco. Costco’s board announced it stands firm on the company’s DE&I initiatives. It stated: “Our success at Costco Wholesale has been built on service to our critical stakeholders: employees, members and suppliers. Our efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion follow our code of ethics,” Forbes reported, and urged stockholders to vote against the NCPPR proposal that takes place Jan. 23.
Apple. Apple also stated its opposition to a shareholder measure calling for an end to its diversity program. The company said the proposal was an inappropriate attempt to restrict Apple’s business operations and that it already assesses legal and regulatory risks.
“The proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well-established compliance program,” said the board, which includes Tim Cook, Tech Xplore reported.
“The proposal also inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies,” the board stated, accusing the think-tank of trying to “micromanage” the company.
Tinisha Bookhart, co-founder and director of IT and DE&I at Primary Talent Partners, in a statement to SIA described decisions to curtail DE&I programming as “saddening and concerning,” adding that a well-designed and effective DE&I initiative should not provide an unfair advantage to unqualified individuals. “When implemented correctly, DE&I solutions aim to provide opportunities to qualified individuals who, due to conscious or unconscious bias and favoritism, might not otherwise have them,” she said. “While revising DE&I programs to enhance their effectiveness and equity is commendable, abandoning DE&I altogether is a grave misstep that only serves to perpetuate existing disparities in the workforce.”