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Meta told employees on Friday that it will cut back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and go back several related programs by marking another one major change in policy for the leading social media company.
The move is the latest sign that Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, is lining up with the entrance of the Trump administration, which is widely expected to roll back several DEI programs
In an internal memo sent to employees Friday, Meta pointed to the “changing legal and political landscape” surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States to explain the changes.
the note was reported for the first time by Axios Meta later confirmed the information to The Hill.
“The United States Supreme Court has recently issued decisions that signal a shift in how courts will approach DEI,” Meta Vice President of Human Resources Janelle Gale wrote in the paper. “It reaffirms the long-standing principles that discrimination should not be tolerated or promoted on the basis of inherent characteristics.”
Gale told employees that the term DEI has become “loaded,” with some people claiming it suggests preference for some groups over others.
Moving forward, the Facebook official noted that Meta will no longer use the “Diverse Slate Approach,” a program that ensures a diverse set of candidates is considered for each position.
While the company’s maintenance will continue with candidates from diverse backgrounds, Gale said Meta now believes “there are other ways to build an industry-leading workforce and leverage teams made up of world-class people from all walks of life.” origins to create products that work for everyone.”
The company will also end its supplier diversity efforts, which were aimed at sourcing companies of diverse ownership, and focus on small and medium-sized businesses, he said.
“Opportunities will continue to be available to all qualified suppliers, including those who were part of the Supplier Diversity Program,” the memo said.
The changes also include the removal of the DEI-focused Meta team. Maxine Williams, Meta’s chief diversity officer, will move into a role focused on accessibility and engagement, according to the documents.
It follows a series of DEI pullbacks in other big companies like Walmart i McDonald’sboth of which cited the 2023 Supreme Court ruling ended affirmative action in university admissions. Since then, conservative groups have been able to succeed in court when fighting some diversity programs.
“Instead of equity and inclusion training programs, we will create programs that focus on how to apply fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for everyone, regardless of your background,” Gale wrote.
Meta’s move was quickly applauded by at least two Republicans on Friday.
“The Woke industrial complex ended on November 5. No one wanted DEI’s policies to begin with, and the private sector is finally waking up to how divisive and dangerous these programs have been,” Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) said of the news friday
“We have a lot of catching up to do and fixing in this country, but we’re starting to turn the corner in the right direction.”
Representative Virginia Foxx (RN.C.)he wrote “Love to see it,” in a repost of the news on X.
The news comes just days after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta will remove its fact-checking program and replace it with a user-driven community rating system.
the changedrew immediate criticismfrom Democrats, who accused Zuckerberg and company of bending the knee to Trump. The president-elect has it he promised to fight against censorship on social media platforms.
Other tech advocacy groups have raised concerns that the switch to a community rating system, similar to the one used on Elon Musk’s social platform X, will make it easier for misinformation and misinformation to spread on the platform.
Zuckerberg is one of several technological leaders accused of cozying up to Trump to mend fences before his second term.
Meta distributed toDonation of 1 million dollarsat Trump’s inaugural fund last month, while the CEO met with the president-elect at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Earlier this month, prominent Republican lobbyist Joel Kaplan was appointed to replace Nick Clegg as the company’s head of global affairs. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White, another Trump ally, will join too the company’s board of directors.
