Meta is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion program, according to an employee memo
Meta Platforms is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, including those for recruiting, training and supplier selection, according to a memo to employees posted Friday on an internal company forum.
The move comes ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, as the company tries to mend relations with a leader who has criticized its political content policy and threatened its chief executive with prison.
“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of human resources, said in a memo seen by Reuters.
A ‘Change’ in US Courts’ Approach to DEI Programs
Gale cited recent Supreme Court decisions that “signal a shift” in how US courts will approach DEI programs in the future.
“The term ‘DEI’ has also come under fire, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others,” she wrote.
Meta will continue to find job candidates from diverse backgrounds, but will stop using a “diversity approach,” Gale said.
The company will no longer have a dedicated team focused on DEI, she wrote. Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams will take on a new role at Meta focused on accessibility and engagement, according to the memo.
One employee commented on Gale’s memo, calling it “disturbing to read.”
The US tech giant on Monday elected three new directors to its board of directors, including Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a close friend of Trump.
Last week, Meta elevated prominent Republican Joel Kaplan to the position of its chief global affairs officer, replacing Nick Clegg.
