McDonald’s has joined the ranks of major corporations revising their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies amidst rising tensions between supporters of such initiatives and political conservatives, especially with the new Trump administration approaching.

Referencing the Supreme Court’s decision in 2023 that outlawed affirmative action in college admissions and the shifting climate surrounding DEI, McDonald’s announced on Monday that they would stop setting targets for enhancing diversity among senior leadership.

The fast-food giant also indicated plans to discontinue a program which encouraged its suppliers to enhance diversity within their ranks, renamed its diversity team to the “Global Inclusion Team,” and halted external surveys related to DEI.

Nevertheless, “McDonald’s stance and commitment to inclusion remains strong,” stated an open letter from McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski along with other leaders.

Following this announcement, anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck claimed a win via a post on X, branding it his first “corporate flip” of 2025. He had previously urged numerous companies, including Walmart and Ford, to adjust their policies and had contacted McDonald’s on the previous Friday to initiate changes.

McDonald’s remarked that the adjustments had been under review for several months, becoming part of an increasing list of large companies retracting DEI commitments made post the killing of George Floyd in 2020, which brought about a significant introspection regarding race in the United States.

Critics of DEI assert that women and people of color are being awarded jobs and promotions at the cost of those who are more qualified and deserving.

On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump, a known critic of DEI, propagated the notion that white Americans were being subjected to racism and aimed to reverse Joe Biden’s “woke takeover” of Washington as a key focus of his second term.

Supporters of DEI programs argue that they are vital for ensuring equality for women and minorities. Business leaders like JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon have consistently highlighted that diverse teams enhance company performance.

Data from YSL News indicates that people of color remain underrepresented in every tier of management within corporate America. A 2023 analysis found that 70% of executive positions in the largest U.S. firms are held by white men, with about one in seven such companies having solely white male executive teams.

In 2020, McDonald’s set “aspirational goals” to improve the representation of women and underrepresented groups among senior leadership, both in their corporate sphere and in company-operated restaurants. The following year, they committed to recruiting franchisees from varied backgrounds.

An independent review of McDonald’s civil rights policies last year revealed that while the company had made “commendable progress” in enhancing diversity in its corporate sector, the representation of diverse groups in its company-operated restaurants remained “underdeveloped.”