Trump Attacks DEI — 10 Companies Now Scaling Back Their Diversity Programs

Ironically, Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump works behind the counter during a campaign event at McDonald’s restaurant on October 20, 2024 in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania.  Source: Pool / Getty

In recent years, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs have become a central focus for many companies, as businesses strive to create more inclusive and supportive environments for employees of all backgrounds. However, a notable shift has emerged as some high-profile companies are starting to scale back or outright roll back their DEI initiatives. While DEI advocates argue that such programs are essential for fostering a more inclusive workplace, critics suggest that some companies are reassessing these investments in response to rising political and economic pressures stirred by President Donald Trump.

Shortly after beginning his second term on Jan. 20, the 78-year-old Republican signed an executive order aimed at eliminating all DEI programs. The order is designed to safeguard “the civil rights of all Americans” and promote “individual opportunity” by ending what it calls “radical DEI preferencing” in federal contracting, according to an open letter written by Trump on the White House website. By reinforcing established federal laws, the move strives to step toward realizing the Constitution’s promise of colorblind equality, but this new order is bound to do more harm than good, particularly for marginalized groups. 

Here is a list of 10 companies that have stripped back their DEI initiatives or programs. 

1. Tesla

Source: Cheng Xin / Getty

Tesla, led by CEO Elon Musk, has been known for its innovative approach to electric vehicles and renewable energy, but the company has been less vocal about its commitment to DEI in recent years. In its 10-K filing with the SEC on Jan. 29, 2024, Tesla made a notable change by removing all references to minority workers and outreach to minority communities, as reported by Bloomberg. This marks a stark contrast to the company’s 2021 filing, where it highlighted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a key human capital objective, stating its commitment to “attracting, developing, and retaining top talent while integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and practices into our core values,” according to CNN. 

Tesla also boasted about the diversity within the company in their 2022 10-K filing, noting that it was dedicated to empowering the marginalized members of its workforce. 

“At Tesla, our employees show up passionate about making a difference in the world and for each other. With a majority-minority workforce, empowering our employee resource groups to take charge in driving initiatives that attract, develop, and retain our passionate workforce is vital to our continued success,” the car company penned at the time.

However, Musk appeared to change his thought process around DEI initiatives in 2023, the same year the Supreme Court ruled to abolish Affirmative Action.

“DEI must DIE,” he wrote in an X post shared Dec. 15, 2023. “The point was to end discrimination, not replace it with different discrimination.”