Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has discontinued its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This change comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg adjusts the company’s policies to align better with President-elect Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, which opposes “woke” culture.

According to an internal memo acquired by Axios, Meta explained that this significant policy shift was influenced by recent legal developments concerning DEI.

“Recent Supreme Court rulings suggest a different approach to how DEI is viewed legally,” Janelle Gale, vice president of human resources, stated. “The term ‘DEI’ has become controversial, with some interpreting it as favoring certain groups over others.”

As part of this transition, Meta will eliminate goals tied to racial or gender representation and will no longer mandate a diverse candidate pool for hiring, Gale noted.

Moving forward, Meta will prioritize programs that enforce fair practices, aiming to reduce bias for all individuals, regardless of their background, according to Gale.

The company’s chief diversity officer, Maxine Williams, will transition to a different position within Meta, and the company will also dissolve its supplier diversity initiatives.

This decision follows Zuckerberg’s recent announcement about transferring content moderation to users and relaxing hate speech guidelines across Meta’s platforms.

Abrupt Changes to DEI Policies Before Trump’s Second Term

Meta’s decision is part of a broader trend seen among major corporations that are retracting their DEI commitments made after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, which prompted a nationwide racial reckoning. Companies like McDonald’s, Walmart, and Ford have also scaled back their DEI initiatives.

Critics of DEI initiatives argue that such programs disadvantage more qualified individuals in favor of women and people of color receiving jobs and promotions.

During his campaign, Trump consistently criticized DEI efforts, suggesting that white Americans are victims of racism and making it a focal point to reverse President Biden’s “woke initiatives” in Washington for his upcoming term.

Supporters argue that DEI programs are essential for creating equal opportunities for women and people of color. Business leaders like Jamie Dimon from JPMorgan Chase have emphasized that diversity positively impacts business performance.

Data from YSL News indicates that employees of color are significantly underrepresented in leadership roles across corporate America. A 2023 analysis revealed that white men constitute 70% of executive positions in the largest U.S. companies, with about 14% of those companies having executive teams composed entirely of white men.

With Republicans regaining control over both chambers of Congress and advocating for new regulations on Big Tech, Zuckerberg has taken further steps signaling alignment with the Trump administration. He appointed Dana White, a known Trump supporter and UFC president, to Meta’s board and promoted prominent Republican Joel Kaplan to oversee the company’s global affairs. Additionally, Meta has committed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.