Anti-woke: With Trump returning, US firms back off on DEI

Summary

U.S. corporations like Walmart and Meta are scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts amid political backlash, rising lawsuits, and the impending return of Donald Trump, who has pledged to eliminate federal DEI programs.

Critics argue these rollbacks could harm innovation, morale, and brand reputation.

While some companies rebrand DEI efforts under terms like "belonging," experts worry reduced transparency and resources may undermine progress.

Anti-DEI lawsuits, fueled by Supreme Court rulings and conservative activists, are expected to grow under Trump’s administration, further challenging corporate DEI strategies.