Ford Motor Co. recently informed its employees that it will discontinue participation in an annual survey conducted by an LGBTQ advocacy group and will eliminate quotas for minority dealerships and suppliers. This move reflects a growing trend among American corporations to reevaluate their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in response to pressure from conservative activists, whose anti-DEI campaigns are gaining traction.

In an internal email shared with YSL News by Robby Starbuck, Ford CEO Jim Farley stated, “We recognize that our employees and customers have diverse beliefs. The external and legal landscape surrounding political and social issues is constantly changing.”

When contacted for further details, Ford responded to YSL News that their global employee communication stands on its own and they had no additional comments.

Starbuck revealed that he had been investigating Ford’s DEI policies prior to the announcement. This week, he also claimed responsibility when home improvement retailer Lowe’s scaled back its DEI initiatives and announced a campaign against Lowe’s competitor, Home Depot.

Ford has decided to stop participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and its “best places to work” surveys. Moreover, the company has made its employee resource groups accessible to all workers. However, the impact of these changes on Ford’s overall DEI policies remains unclear.

Starbuck remarked on X, “Although this isn’t everything we desire, it’s an excellent beginning.”

Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, expressed disappointment, stating that Ford Motor Co. is neglecting its obligations to its employees, customers, and shareholders.

Robinson further commented, “By not supporting women leaders, employees of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals, Ford is failing to fulfill its financial responsibility to attract and retain top talent from a diverse talent pool. Consumers should consider this when making purchasing decisions, as Ford has drifted away from its commitment to our communities.”

Both Lowe’s and Ford made preemptive adjustments before Starbuck mobilized his social media audience to boycott them.

Starbuck expressed, “We are now compelling major corporations to alter their policies simply from the anxiety of becoming the next target of our scrutiny.”

Starbuck indicated to YSL News that he avoids disclosing the specifics of his campaigns in advance, but assured that “incremental changes” similar to Ford’s will not sway their pursuit of greater transformations.

Activists Seek to Shift Corporate DEI Focus

In a country deeply divided over issues of race, gender, and family dynamics, Starbuck represents a rising wave of activists challenging corporations to reconsider their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, climate issues, and matters affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

Encouraged by a Supreme Court ruling last year that prohibited affirmative action in colleges, conservative activists, including anti-affirmative action advocate Edward Blum and former Trump administration official Stephen Miller, are targeting the private sector with a series of legal challenges against corporations, government bodies, and nonprofits.

Starbuck leverages his nearly 600,000 followers on X to incite outrage and pressure businesses.

Multiple companies, including Tractor Supply, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, and Brown-Forman (the maker of Jack Daniel’s whiskey), have altered their DEI programs following scrutiny from Starbuck.

Farley serves on the board of Harley-Davidson, while John Deere CEO John May is part of Ford’s board.

Reasons Behind the Shift Away from DEI

Although many business leaders publicly affirm their commitment to DEI following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, privately they are reevaluating DEI investments and distancing themselves from initiatives, like hiring targets that are viewed as illegal quotas by conservatives.

Programs that once targeted historically underrepresented groups for fellowships and internships are now increasingly open to all. A growing number of firms have excluded references to diversity goals in shareholders’ reports and are categorizing DEI as a “risk factor” in regulatory submissions.

Advocates for diversity argue that business leaders are attempting to navigate away from national cultural disputes while still endorsing DEI initiatives, which remain popular with many.

A significant number of consumers and workers are experiencing this shift.

This transformation is fueled by the heightened political tension as we approach the 2024 election.

If he secures the presidency, GOP candidate Donald Trump has vowed to undo the Biden administration’s “woke equity” initiatives.

J.D. Vance, the Republican senator from Ohio and Trump’s running mate, proposed a legislation called the “Dismantle DEI Act,” aimed at terminating all federal DEI programs along with the funding for government agencies and contractors associated with DEI activities.

There’s a growing sentiment among Americans favoring businesses to avoid engaging in public policies.

According to a recent Gallup and Bentley University survey, less than 4 in 10 U.S. adults (38%) believe that corporations should express their views on public issues, marking a decrease of 10 percentage points from 2022.

The only demographics showing majority support for businesses taking public positions are LGBTQ+ individuals (55%), Black individuals (54%), and Democrats (53%), as per the Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report.

DEI as a divisive issue in the 2024 elections

In this unpredictable political landscape, Starbuck considers himself a guardian of corporate integrity. He positions his campaign as an initiative to remove political influences from the business arena.

He attributes his effectiveness to targeting widely popular brands among conservatives that he believes have deviated from the values of their customer base.

Tractor Supply, his initial focus, has abolished its DEI programs, while other companies opted not to make significant modifications.

“When a corporation completely changes its stance like Tractor Supply, we encourage people to support those kinds of businesses,” Starbuck conveyed to YSL News.

Proponents of diversity assert that DEI initiatives are embraced in corporate America due to their contribution to business performance.

A recent report from the Global Black Economic Forum and the Korn Ferry Institute highlighted that fostering diverse teams and inclusive environments leads to increased innovation and achieves various business objectives.

“Critics of DEI aim to dismantle these programs because they yield results,” stated Andrea Abrams, executive director of the Defending American Values Coalition, part of the Stacey Abrams-founded American Pride Rises Network. “Instead of succumbing to the pressures from anti-DEI activists, companies should advocate for the economic benefits of DEI and firmly uphold their commitment to initiatives that enlarge the talent pool and boost profits.”

With the anti-DEI discourse gaining traction in conservative online communities and discussions surrounding the “woke mind virus” led by notable figures such as Elon Musk, Shaun Harper, a professor specializing in business, public policy, and education at the University of Southern California, emphasizes the need for companies to be more open about their efforts to ensure their workforce and leadership mirror the demographics of their customers.

“It’s essential for corporations to demonstrate their initiatives and clarify that their efforts are not the extreme, divisive, and indoctrinating interpretations of DEI that are frequently portrayed in conservative media, including Fox News,” Harper remarked.