Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has announced the termination of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, as reported by Hadas Gold for CNN. This decision involves dismantling its DEI team, ceasing equity and inclusion training, and altering hiring and supplier diversity practices, according to an internal memo obtained by CNN.
Janelle Gale, Meta’s Vice President of Human Resources, explained in the memo that the changing legal and policy landscape in the United States, particularly recent Supreme Court decisions, has influenced this move. “It reaffirms longstanding principles that discrimination should not be tolerated or promoted on the basis of inherent characteristics,” Gale wrote.
Meta will also end initiatives such as requiring managers to source candidates from underrepresented groups and efforts to work with minority-owned vendors and suppliers. Maxine Williams, Meta’s Chief Diversity Officer, will now focus on a new role centered on accessibility and engagement.
This development is part of a broader trend among corporations scaling back DEI efforts. Companies such as McDonald’s, Walmart, and Ford have also reduced or eliminated similar programs amidst legal and political challenges.
CNN reports that Meta’s recent decisions, including ending its third-party fact-checking programs and altering its hateful conduct policies, reflect a shift in approach. The company now emphasizes building programs that apply fair and consistent practices to mitigate bias for all individuals, regardless of background.
As Meta transitions away from DEI initiatives, the move highlights evolving cultural and political influences on corporate practices. This latest announcement underscores the impact of legal decisions and shifting priorities in the tech sector.
