DEI Under Fire is our monthly series that keeps you up-to-date on the latest DEI announcements and changes from the nation’s leading companies. This month, we discovered that more companies are rejecting the anti-DEI wave. Bristol Myers Squibb stood firm on their DEI efforts, highlighting the importance of an inclusive workforce. Berkshire Hathaway also backed its DEI initiatives as shareholders rejected an anti-DEI proposal. Goldman Sachs, however, removed references associated with DEI on its website. Here are some of the latest changes we think you should know about. Remember to
Alondra Nelson, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in New Jersey, has announced her resignation from the National Science Board and the Library of Congress Scholars Council. In an op-ed for Time Magazine, Nelson detailed the hostile environment at the Library of Congress since January 2025, the month President Trump commenced his second term. “We’ve also seen civil servants fired and accused of not making the mark, vendors’s contracts ignored, and grants and fellowships cancelled,” she wrote, detailing rising political interference and a breakdown in the integrity of US knowledge institutions. Normalization
Levi’s shareholders voted against a proposal that asked the company to end its DEI efforts. The National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank, submitted a proposal to shareholders urging the company to “consider abolishing its DEI program, policies, department and goals,” according to WWD. Numerous companies, retailers, and even universities have called back on their DEI efforts to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive orders. In January, Trump revoked a six-decade-old executive order that prohibited workplace discrimination by federal contractors. Levi’s maintains its DEI efforts A company
Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, stood firm on its DEI initiatives, and his employees couldn’t be more grateful. During an interview at the Great Place to Work for All Summit in Las Vegas, Capuano discussed the new unpredictability surrounding DEI policies following President Donald Trump’s executive orders. Although Marriott leaders have publicly stated that they aspire to be leaders in the DEI space, Trump’s executive orders and policies against these initiatives have caused uncertainty regarding their plans, according to Fortune. Marriott CEO’s stance on DEI During the summit, Capuano
New figures reveal that Black shoppers had a significant impact on the February 28 ‘Economic Blackout,’ particularly at major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, Retail Brew reports. The boycott, led by grassroots organization The People’s Union USA, urged consumers to freeze spending for 24 hours in response to rising prices, corporate policies, and economic challenges facing consumers. $220 million decline for Black shoppers The boycott fell on a Friday, and sales decreased by 5.4% and trips fell by 4.1% compared to the average Friday, as stated by Numerator. Household
The consumer boycott against Target will not come to a halt, according to Pastor Jamal Bryant. In March, the retailer announced that it would end its DEI programs, including its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiative and a program focused on carrying more products from Black—or minority-owned businesses. Subsequently, Bryant called for a 40-day boycott against the retailer, which began on Wednesday, March 4. The movement spanned cities including Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Florida, and Alexandria, Virginia. The “Target Fast” coincided with Lent, when some Christians observe fasting. Target’s foot
PepsiCo representatives met with civil rights leaders from the National Action Network (NAN) following Reverend Al Sharpton’s threat to lead a boycott over the company’s decision to roll back parts of its DEI efforts. On April 4, 2025, Sharpton sent a letter to Pepsi specifying the details of a planned boycott. Sharpton then issued a statement on Tuesday, April 15, stating that he and several members of NAN had a “constructive conversation” with PepsiCo Chairman Ramon Laguarta and PepsiCo North America CEO Steven Williams. PepsiCo changing its commitment to DEI
DEI Under Fire is our monthly series that keeps you up-to-date on the latest DEI announcements and changes from the nation’s leading companies. This month, we discovered that Lego removed terms associated with diversity from its annual sustainability report despite adding more “diverse” characters to make its toys more inclusive. NASA fired Neela Rajendra, an Indian-origin official who served as the chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Yahoo removed multiple pages and other sections associated with DEI policies from its website. Here are some of the latest changes we
Target’s foot traffic has fallen for the ninth consecutive week amidst its 40-day boycott, as stated by Retail Brew. The company’s traffic started to plummet in the first whole week after it shared that it was rolling back its DEI efforts. In March, the retailer announced that it would end its DEI programs, including its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiative and a program focused on carrying more products from Black—or minority-owned businesses. Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, Kiera Fernandez, sent a memo to staff stating, “Many
The Trump administration is urging some large companies in the EU to comply with executive orders to end DEI programs. Government officials have allegedly sent letters to companies in France and the European Union with US government contracts, stating that they should ban DEI initiatives if they want to hold on to their contracts, according to The Financial Times. “Department of State contractors must certify that they do not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable anti-discrimination laws and agree that such certification is material for purposes of
