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President Donald Trump has set a strict deadline for schools and universities to revise their DEI policies. AP News reports the Education Departmen t has stated “racial preferences” can no longer be applicable in admissions, financial aid, or hiring. Beginning in 14 days, “educational institutions may neither separate nor segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race,” the memo read. “The last thing students need when making plans about how to pay for college is uncertainty over when or whether they will receive financial aid they’ve been relying on,” The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators said in a statement. The mandate was listed in a memo released on Friday, Feb. 14, which was a continuation of Trump’s executive order to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This included placing federal employees in DEI roles on paid leave per the administration’s agenda to “take steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives,...
JPMorgan Chase has begun removing any mention of its DEI efforts from its website, according to The Wall Street Journal. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, the bank’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, had vowed to maintain its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policies, despite pushback from the conservative National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC). The center had also suggested that JPMorgan Chase, which employs 300,000 people globally, reexamine executive compensation tied to DEI goals — an initiative it introduced in 2020 through its “accountability framework.” That same year, the company had launched a $30 billion program to promote racial equity in personal finance as well. In response to the recent pushback, Dimon said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month, “Bring them on. We are going to continue to reach out to the Black community, the Hispanic community, the LGBT community, the...
Meta has issued a harsh reality check to its employees. Business Insider shared insights from a leaked all-hands recording, revealing the company’s vision for the future. Among the key takeaways was an ambitious plan for a “highly intelligent and personalized” digital assistant, which is anticipated to reach 1 billion users. “I think whoever gets there first is going to have a long-term, durable advantage towards building one of the most important products in history,” Zuckerberg explained in the recording. He also addressed the company’s decision to steer clear from third-party fact-checkers in place of the community notes system and changes in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Meta is among the major companies that have retracted its policies, adhering to conservative agendas. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Meta dismantled its programs tied to DEI and stopped the initiative that required it to consider hiring diverse candidates in every open position. “The way...
Starbucks is at the center of a lawsuit for alleged discrimination related to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies . On Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, filed a lawsuit claiming that the Seattle, WA-based coffee chain enforces “race-and-sex-based hiring practices” and unlawfully segregates employees in violation of anti-discrimination laws, according to a news release. Since taking office for a second term on Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders to dismantle federal DEI initiatives. “As Attorney General, I have a responsibility to protect Missourians from a company that actively engages in systemic race and sex discrimination,” Bailey said. “Racism has no place in Missouri. We’re filing suit to halt this blatant violation of the Missouri Human Rights Act in its tracks.” Bailey said the initiatives have led to a “more female and less white” workforce and forced Missouri consumers to “pay...
Coca-Cola is one of the most popular soft drinks in the world. Well-known for its iconic red branding, this fan favorite has been gracing the shelves of stores since 1886. While it comes from humble beginnings in Atlanta, Georgia Coca-Cola has become a global soft drink sensation; their plethora of products has made a tremendous profit. According to company reports , they made $215 million in just the first quarter of 2024. While the numbers certainly support Coca-Cola’s success, some consumers are starting to question the moral compass of the globally influential brand. Along with countless other popular companies , Coca-Cola is being put in the hot seat. With the ongoing ban on DEI on the federal level, many companies are choosing to follow suit. Some are sticking with inclusive initiatives but overall those seemingly anti-DEI are getting the most attention. These companies are either altogether getting rid of their diversity initiatives or making significant changes to company...
Major companies have quietly removed insights related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from their annual reports. NPR’s analysis discovered that at least 12 of the nation’s largest companies erased DEI references in their annual reports, most of which were filed within the last two weeks. The companies revealed were Disney, Google , GM, GE, Intel, PayPal, Chipotle, Comcast, 3M, Regeneron, Philip Morris, and Pepsi, which prides itself among investors for its belief that a “culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion is a competitive advantage” in 2024. According to CNBC, Amazon is another company that has followed suit. Its 2024 annual report referenced “inclusion and diversity” under a section labeled “Human Capital.” “As we strive to be Earth’s best employer, we focus on investment and innovation, inclusion and diversity, safety, and engagement to hire and develop the best talent,” the 2024 report read. That section was updated in 2025 and now reads, “We strive to be...
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has changed its stance on underwriting initial public offerings (IPOs) for companies with all-white male boards. In 2020, CEO David Solomon announced that the leading investment bank would only take a company public in the United States or Western Europe if the organization had at least two diverse board members, one of whom was a woman, AFROTECH™ previously reported. However, as of Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, Goldman’s IPO requirement is null and void, according to Bloomberg. “As a result of legal developments related to board diversity requirements, we ended our formal board diversity policy,” said Goldman spokesperson Tony Fratto, Bloomberg reported . “We continue to believe that successful boards benefit from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and we will encourage them to take this approach.” Goldman’s 12-member board currently includes two people of color , one of whom is a woman. Among the bank’s executives, 73% are white, with 56% being men. Data...
Despite President Donald Trump’s orders, Comcast is one of several media companies the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating for allegedly promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to Reuters, FCC Chair Brendan Carr announced the opening of the investigation into NBC News and its parent company, Comcast, on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2025, citing “substantial evidence” that the companies continue to promote DEI. Carr noted that Comcast operates across multiple FCC-regulated sectors, including cable, high-speed internet, broadcast television stations, and wireless services. “The FCC will be taking fresh action to ensure that every entity the FCC regulates complies with the civil rights protections enshrined in the Communications Act… including by shutting down any programs that promote invidious forms of DEI discrimination,” the letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts read, per Reuters. The FCC is also reviewing whether a “60 Minutes” interview with...
Venture firm Ulu Ventures has raised $208 million to support diverse founders. WSJ Pro reports that the VC firm founded by Miriam Rivera and her husband, Clint Korver, has invested in companies where 80% have a white co-founder. However, an equal 80% share also has at least one founder who is an immigrant, a woman, or from a minority group. Since its inception in 2008, this initiative has supported 250 startups , leveraging a data-driven approach to minimize cognitive bias and foster inclusive investment across all demographics. “Venture capital has so many decision-making problems when it comes to bias, diversity, disdain for data and analytics, hubris, misapplication of pattern-matching, and so on, that we feel like the one-eyed VCs in the land of the blind,” Korver told the outlet. The couple acknowledges a shift due to the changing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) landscape. Major companies are throwing in the towel and dismantling DEI commitments, with some erasing...
What wasn’t clear before is crystal clear now: Disney has made its move. For years, the “House of Mouse” danced around the edges of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conversations — sometimes boldly stepping in, other times retreating into the shadows when the heat got too intense. According to a previous AFROTECH™ report, Disney maintained an ambiguous stance on DEI, especially as other corporate giants began rolling back their diversity commitments. But that fog has lifted. Now, people know exactly where Disney stands in the thick of America’s ongoing cultural tug-of-war. Disney’s Shift Toward Business-Driven DEI Initiatives In a memo obtained by Axios, Chief H uman Resources Officer Sonia Coleman shared Disney’s new game plan with employees : DEI efforts will no longer be treated as stand-alone social good projects. Instead, they’re being rebranded to focus squarely on driving business outcomes. Translation? Diversity isn’t just about optics anymore — it’s about the bottom...
Deloitte is involved in a domino effect of U.S. corporations scaling back their DEI initiatives. An increasing number of companies are shifting their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts or removing them all together. Google will no longer recognize Black History Month and Pride Month on its calendar, per USA Today, while Disney says it will turn its focus from DEI to business outcomes and values, notes Business Insider. There is a growing push from conservatives such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and President Donald Trump. Per ABC News, Trump’s administration believes “DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict.” However, Christie Smith, former vice president of inclusion and diversity at Apple and C-Suite adviser, told the outlet, “When done right, DEI policies improve employee engagement, reduce turnover, and foster innovation by bringing diverse perspectives to the table. But the impact depends...
In a move that has sparked considerable debate, PBS announced the closure of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, citing compliance with executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. According to Deadline, the decision was confirmed through a memo from PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger, marking a significant rollback of the organization’s DEI efforts — a trend increasingly observed across public and private sectors as political pressures increase. A Sudden Shift In Strategy As reported by The New York Times reporter Ben Mullin via X (formerly Twitter), the memo revealed that PBS’s DEI office would be shuttered and that key leaders Cecilia Loving, senior vice president of DEI, and Gina Leow, director of DEI, would be departing the organization. Kerger noted, “To ensure that we are complying with the president’s executive order, we have closed our DEI office, and Cecilia Loving and Gina Leow are leaving PBS.” Adding to the dissonance is the fact that this...
Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. On February 1st, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs on America’s biggest trade partners: Mexico, Canada, and China. Canada and Mexico were supposed to face a 25% tariff, while China received a 10% tax. In response, Canada, Mexico, and China announced that they would retaliate by imposing their own tariffs on American goods. On February 10, China will hit the US with a 15% tariff on coal and a 10% tariff on crude oil, farm equipment, and some vehicles. The Trump administration has prioritized tariffs as a key policy focus, despite warnings from economic experts about their potential negative impact on the economy. Many voters supported Trump due to his economic promises, but since taking office, several of his policy decisions have contributed to rising costs of living. As of last week, tariffs on Canada and Mexico have been postponed until March, as both countries...
DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives have been quickly scaled back or removed entirely across America following the Trump administration’s recent orders. Upon entering office last month, he banned DEI programs and even removed inclusive wording. Resources for underrepresented Americans on federal and corporate websites are disappearing by the day and many companies are following suit . This disappointing truth has led to a public uproar and general disappointment with obvious digressions from inclusiveness . What’s even more sobering is many companies’ silence or steady reversal of their previous commitments to progressive programs. Day by day companies are either doubling down , scaling back or completely switching up on their DEI efforts. No matter if their renunciations are quiet are bold, people are starting to pay more attention to corporate motives surrounding workplace inclusivity. Which Companies Are Still Supporting DEI? Christina @ wocintechchat.com/Unsplash...
If you’ve been tapped in to the world of business news in recent months, you’re likely well aware that DEI measures are firmly on the chopping block, thanks to the Trump administration . The DEI framework, which seeks to support diversity, equity and inclusion within the workplace, has been an invaluable tool in the national marketplace to ensure that those in marginalized communities are given a fair shot at employment and upward mobility. Much like other social programs, such as affirmative action, DEI has been integral to the success of disabled individuals, underprivileged youths and those who identify as part of the LGBTQ community . Unfortunately, a powerful minority of fringe right-wing lawmakers have taken issue with DEI initiatives and have quixotically maligned the entire practice as discriminatory. Since the newly established White House cabinet has become so dead-set on eliminating DEI measures across the board, legal requirements for fair hiring practices have already...