DEI programs face boycotts: The fight to maintain diversity programs has moved to social media. Some supporters of President Donald Trump are calling for a boycott of companies that do not support the policy that became law under his administration. Others, defenders of diversity, are calling for a boycott against companies that are abandoning those programs.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have come under attack in American boardrooms, state legislatures, and college campuses—and now, broadly, across the federal government.
President Donald Trump, hours after being sworn in this week, began making good on his promises to wage a war against such policies, signing an executive order banning efforts like “environmental justice programs,” “equity initiatives,” and DEI considerations in federal hiring.
The fledgling Republican White House also ordered employees of federal diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility offices to be put on paid administrative leave. And DEI is now in the crosshairs of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, led by billionaire Elon Musk, who last year called DEI “just another word for racism.”
Latino actor John Leguizamo called for a boycott of companies such as Target, Walmart, HomeGoods, T.J. Maxx, McDonald’s, Ford, Boeing, Amazon, Meta, Dairy Queen, Baskin-Robbins, and others for joining Trump’s initiative and dismantling their diversity programs. He urges people not to shop at these stores.
But even as Trump seeks to take the anti-DEI fight into the private sector, many businesses are making it clear that they won’t be bowing down so easily.
While recent efforts by Costco are the most prominent example of sticking with DEI policies and practices, the Seattle-based wholesale buying club is not alone. It promises to be a long, drawn-out fight.
Countless small and medium-sized businesses have maintained and pursued their equality and diversity programs in principled anonymity. Many of the nation’s largest corporations are stepping up to publicly reaffirm their DEI commitments in ways smaller companies cannot. These include Microsoft, Apple, Pinterest, Adobe, McKinsey, Delta, Nike, JPMorgan Chase, and others that have become even more entrenched in the face of rising hostility.
Also among these companies is Costco, whose shareholders last week voted down an effort by a conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research, to force a reevaluation and abandonment of the chain’s DEI policies. Despite unionized Costco employees having just days before approved a strike motion over a new contract, a full 98 percent of the company’s stockholders backed the board’s rejection of the anti-diversity motion—clearly stating that the beneficial program wasn’t negotiable under threats of lawsuits or shifting political winds.
“Our efforts around diversity, equity, and inclusion follow our code of ethics,” the Costco board said in a statement. “For our employees, these efforts are built around inclusion—having all of our employees feel valued and respected. Our efforts at diversity, equity, and inclusion remind everyone at our company of the importance of creating opportunities for all. We believe these efforts enhance our capacity to attract and retain employees who will help our business succeed.”
Write a Reply or Comment
You should Sign In or Sign Up account to post comment.