Meta Platforms and Amazon have announced cuts to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, joining a number of US companies scaling back similar initiatives as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

According to an internal memo obtained by Axios, Meta plans to completely phase out DEI programs in training, hiring, and vendor selection. The document says the moves are due to "a changing legal and political landscape."

  • "The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI. … The term 'DEI' has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others," wrote Janelle Gale, Meta's vice president of human resources.

Meta's decision is part of a broader shift. Last week, the company announced it was getting rid of fact-checkers, loosening content moderation, and reintroducing political content. Meta also appointed UFC CEO Dane White, a longtime Trump friend, to its board of directors.

Amazon, for its part, has also decided to "gradually phase out legacy programs and content" under the DEI.

"We have been working to bring employee groups together under one roof and create programs that are open to all," the memo, obtained by FOX Business, reads. "Rather than having individual groups develop their own programs, we are focusing on proven initiatives and striving to create a truly inclusive culture."

Amazon has also removed sections from its websites dedicated to the company's positions on black equality and LGBTQ+ rights. 

What Trump has to do with it?

Both companies reportedly donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund.

Meta's policy change is particularly notable given the strained relationship between Trump and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In 2016, Facebook became a key platform for Trump's campaign, but in 2021, Meta's Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended after he praised supporters who staged a Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

In 2023, Facebook reinstated Trump's account. However, Trump himself said in his book Save America that Zuckerberg should be imprisoned for life and accused him, without evidence, of interfering in the 2020 election.

Cuts to DEI programs are not limited to tech companies. Under pressure from conservatives and threats of boycotts, companies like McDonald's, Walmart, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson have also cut back on their gender equality work.