The U.S. Companies Pulling Back on Diversity Initiatives [Video]

A number of prominent companies have scaled back or set aside the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that much of corporate America endorsed following the protests that accompanied the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020.

Emboldened by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that outlawed affirmative action in college admissions, conservative activists have used the courts and social media to target workplace programs. They’ve targeted corporate sponsorships, employee-led affinity groups, and hiring practices that prioritize historically marginalized groups.

DEI policies typically were intended as a counterweight to discriminatory practices. Critics argue that education, government and business programs which single out participants based on factors such as race, gender and sexual orientation are unfair and the same opportunities should be afforded to everyone.

These are some of the companies that have retreated from DEI:

Target

The retailer said Friday that changes to its “Belonging at the Bullseye” strategy would include ending a program it establishedto help Black …