Is DEI dead?

[Butch Bradford]

Lots of chatter about the proverbial death of DEI.

What say you, poli froobs?


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[chris_numbers]

Everyone should be for Diversity, equity and Inclusion.

It just shouldn’t be at the expense of hating on any group.

[Bob Wiley]

Even if DEI officially goes away it will unofficially stick around. Companies want to show an inclusive workplace or so candidates feel more comfortable.

Luther College has very few brown or black students, but their brochures always have one or two of them in the picture. It makes people feel welcome.

Except for racists.

[DonaldDouchebag]

Everyone should be for Diversity, equity and Inclusion.

It just shouldn’t be at the expense of hating on any group.

White men have it so tough. They're the real victims!

Imagine telling a white man he needs to learn about the Tuskegee airmen. I mean, how disgusting.

[Butch Bradford]

A growing list of the companies who have either discontinued or committed to DEI strategies

Target joins the growing list of major retailers and companies that have abandoned their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Jan 27, 2025



In the wake of a Trump-led culture shift away from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (many spearheaded in the wake of the George Floyd protests in 2020), some of the biggest companies in the world have been showing us one by one who still values diversity, equity, and inclusion and who doesn’t.

On Friday, Target announced in a memo sent to its employees that it was joining the growing list of companies and brands concluding their DEI initiatives.

“Throughout 2025, we’ll be accelerating action in key areas and implementing changes with the goal of driving growth and staying in step with the evolving external landscape. We will continue to monitor and adjust as needed,” Target officials explained in a fact sheet about the change to their DEI strategies.

The Minneapolis-based chain added that it is “concluding our three-year diversity, equity, and inclusion goals” and “further evaluating our corporate partnerships to ensure they are directly connected to our roadmap for growth.”

The announcement has led to calls for a boycott of the retailer, and a formal one is planned to kick off on Feb. 1. Caught in the crossfire, however, are Black-and-brown-owned businesses and businesses owned by women. As prominent voices weigh in on the impact of mass boycotts of some major retailers, many have begun to question where they can still shop for the essentials they need and support minority-owned businesses.

Despite the growing list of brands ending their DEI initiatives, it should be encouraging to many to know that the list of brands committing to their DEI strategies is also growing.

Companies committing to their DEI strategies include Apple, Costco, Ben & Jerry’s, E.l.f Beauty, and JP Morgan.

Below, we’ve gathered all of the major companies and retailers who have announced that they are ending their DEI policies.

Target
Target became the latest major retailer to announce, in a memo released Friday, that it would be dramatically shifting its DEI efforts.

Amazon
On Dec. 16, the online retailer announced it was ending some of its DEI initiatives without specifying publicly which ones.

Walmart
The World’s largest retailer announced in November 2024 that come 2025, it would not be renewing a five-year commitment to an equity racial center originally established in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd. Similarly to Target, the brand is also ending its participation in the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.

Meta
In early January, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company announced it would end its DEI program that prioritized diverse hiring, training, and vendor selection.

McDonald’s
The fast food giant announced earlier this month that it would end some of its DEI practices, citing the Supreme Court’s decision to ban Affirmative Action in 2023.

Ford
The American automaker announced in August that it would be making changes to its DEI initiatives, including withdrawing from the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.

Harley-Davidson
In August 2024, the legendary motorcycle brand announced changes in a post on X, including ending its participation in the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index and no longer having supplier diversity spending goals.

Lowe’s
In addition to ending its participation in the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, the hardware chain announced in August that, following the Supreme Court’s decision on Affirmation Action, it was consolidating its employee resource groups into one.

John Deere
In July 2024, the agriculture equipment maker announced it would no longer sponsor “social or cultural awareness.”

Tractor Supply
A month before John Deere made its announcement, Tennessee-based Tractor Supply announced it was discontinuing its DEI efforts thus far, citing conservative backlash online.

Brown Forman
Jack Daniels’ parent company is also withdrawing from the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, among other changes. “The world has evolved, our business has changed, and the legal and external landscape has shifted dramatically,” company officials said, per Time.

[ForCaleb]

A great example of DEI going too far is the Ivy League admission practices which just ended up being a form of institutional racism.

[BlackDog]

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[Bob Wiley]

A great example of DEI going too far is the Ivy League admission practices which just ended up being a form of institutional racism.

Affirmative Action was created to help more black and brown people get jobs but it can go to far when better candidates lose out. It happened to me what I was applying to teach.

But diversity is a positive thing in school when the teachers look like their students.

[Ask Not]

Everyone should be for Diversity, equity and Inclusion.

It just shouldn’t be at the expense of hating on any group.

I find myself kinda hating stupid, disingenuous people, so I've worked hard to better understand what makes them tick.

[Butch Bradford]

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[Butch Bradford]

A great example of DEI going too far is the Ivy League admission practices which just ended up being a form of institutional racism.

Yep.

They are filling their DEI quota at the expense of other students, regardless or merit.

[Mplsfonz]

They are filling their DEI quota at the expense of other students, regardless or merit.

Sure they are, however, some students get into school over other students black and white because rich daddy paid for them. Might even get on the varsity rowing team even though they have never done it before. Happens all the time.

[Butch Bradford]

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[Butch Bradford]

They are filling their DEI quota at the expense of other students, regardless or merit.

Sure they are, however, some students get into school over other students black and white because rich daddy paid for them. Might even get on the varsity rowing team even though they have never done it before. Happens all the time.

Do you believe enrollment should be based on merit?

[Unbiased Observer]

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You probably should have listed trigger warnings for that.

[Je9]

Even if DEI officially goes away it will unofficially stick around. Companies want to show an inclusive workplace or so candidates feel more comfortable.

Luther College has very few brown or black students, but their brochures always have one or two of them in the picture. It makes people feel welcome.

Except for racists.

Diversity is good for innovation and all sorts of progress

[Je9]

They are filling their DEI quota at the expense of other students, regardless or merit.

Sure they are, however, some students get into school over other students black and white because rich daddy paid for them. Might even get on the varsity rowing team even though they have never done it before. Happens all the time.

Do you believe enrollment should be based on merit?

Quit being so stupid. Dei doesn’t remove merit. Trump does however.

[Butch Bradford]

Sure they are, however, some students get into school over other students black and white because rich daddy paid for them. Might even get on the varsity rowing team even though they have never done it before. Happens all the time.

Do you believe enrollment should be based on merit?

Quit being so stupid. Dei doesn’t remove merit. Trump does however.

Wrong.

[Butch Bradford]

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You probably should have listed trigger warnings for that.

yep

[Roy Kent]

Do you believe enrollment should be based on merit?

Quit being so stupid. Dei doesn’t remove merit. Trump does however.

Wrong.

SOOO very wrong.

[Butch Bradford]

Quit being so stupid. Dei doesn’t remove merit. Trump does however.

Wrong.

SOOO very wrong.

Nailed it.

[Sellingguy]

You can be DEI without saying so. Saying so pisses off half your customers. Then turning around and saying your not doing it pisses off the other half of your customers.

You want teachers that reflect the students? Great hire them. But also remember that Affirmative action was created because companies hired who they felt reflected their customers and other workers.

The NFL has tried to ram this idea that more head coaches should be black because of all the black players.
That is stupid. So if someone says the NHL is all white coaches, you can say , well most of the players are white?

Should target make sure they have a % of every group working at each store? That would be silly.

Should a gay bar make sure they have a % of straight people working?

[Ask Not]

You can be DEI without saying so. Saying so pisses off half your customers. Then turning around and saying your not doing it pisses off the other half of your customers.

You want teachers that reflect the students? Great hire them. But also remember that Affirmative action was created because companies hired who they felt reflected their customers and other workers.

The NFL has tried to ram this idea that more head coaches should be black because of all the black players.
That is stupid. So if someone says the NHL is all white coaches, you can say , well most of the players are white?

Should target make sure they have a % of every group working at each store? That would be silly.

Should a gay bar make sure they have a % of straight people working?

What does being DEI mean?

[Hornets]

SO glad the silly little DEI fad is over.....whose bright idea was that anyway?

[cmd24]

A great example of DEI going too far is the Ivy League admission practices which just ended up being a form of institutional racism.

Affirmative Action was created to help more black and brown people get jobs but it can go to far when better candidates lose out. It happened to me what I was applying to teach.

But diversity is a positive thing in school when the teachers look like their students.

A couple years ago, my daughter did a tour at MSU for prospective teachers. There were 10-15 kids in the tour and they got lectured the whole time about the lack of POC in the teaching profession. Enough of a lecture that it turned off a few of the kids. Turns out you shouldn’t lecture a bunch of farm kids from southern MN about the inequalities in teaching.

I’m with you in that more diversity is needed in education. Unfortunately like many jobs, you also only get to pick from a limited pool of applicants. I think the idea of getting that equality needs to start earlier in trying to appeal to more kids somehow, to help build that pool.

[cunningham]

How can DEI be dead? How does that work with HR? The idea of scrapping DEI in the workplace is a disaster for women. Without it, the pay gap stays locked in, women keep earning less than men for the same work, and leadership teams remain boys’ clubs. Women make up only about 10% of CEOs in Fortune 500 companies—think that’ll improve without intentional effort?

Harassment and bias? Without DEI training, they’ll thrive. Discrimination doesn’t just fix itself. And policies like paid family leave, flexible schedules, and childcare support? DEI pushes for those. Without it, they’re gone, and women are left juggling impossible work-life lifestyles.

If some folks are fine with women struggling to break through the same old barriers, they should just admit it. Don’t dress it up as “progress.” I’ve got two daughters. I hope that we promote women in the workplace. Women benefit most from DEI programs.

[Sellingguy]

You can be DEI without saying so. Saying so pisses off half your customers. Then turning around and saying your not doing it pisses off the other half of your customers.

You want teachers that reflect the students? Great hire them. But also remember that Affirmative action was created because companies hired who they felt reflected their customers and other workers.

The NFL has tried to ram this idea that more head coaches should be black because of all the black players.
That is stupid. So if someone says the NHL is all white coaches, you can say , well most of the players are white?

Should target make sure they have a % of every group working at each store? That would be silly.

Should a gay bar make sure they have a % of straight people working?

What does being DEI mean?

You can get stuck there if you want.

[chris_numbers]

Everyone should be for Diversity, equity and Inclusion.

It just shouldn’t be at the expense of hating on any group.

White men have it so tough. They're the real victims!

Imagine telling a white man he needs to learn about the Tuskegee airmen. I mean, how disgusting.

It’s not about white men, which you are and I kind of am. My kids and wife are obviously minorities and early with the white liberal racism that exists.

Trust me, nothing is worse than a white liberal who wants to share their land and country with you.

[Sellingguy]

I saw a comment about how white men under 40 are the problem. Now my first question is, how has all the messages about inclusion, accept all people, treat people fair etc etc somehow miss anyone under 40?

[Bull]

I saw a comment about how white men under 40 are the problem. Now my first question is, how has all the messages about inclusion, accept all people, treat people fair etc etc somehow miss anyone under 40?

You saw a comment? Was it on the Facebook? Who made the comment? Did you respond to the comment? Maybe you should ask the person who made the comment.