Conservative groups have condemned the plans and threatened to sue the companies over them.

Facebook owner Meta Platforms and Amazon are winding down diversity programs ahead of Republican Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency, but opposition to such plans is growing among conservatives.

Some of the nation’s largest companies have been scaling back their diversity initiatives in the wake of protests over the police killing of George Floyd and others, and they have been pushing for more inclusive policies years later. Black Americans in 2020.

Meta said in an internal memo sent to employees on Friday that it will end its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, including programs to recruit, train and select suppliers, the latest in a series of actions that conservatives have cheered measures.

In less than two weeks, Meta has US fact-checking program canceledappointed prominent Republican Joel Kaplan as chief global affairs officer, and elected Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White, a close friend of Trump, to the board of directors.

Amazon said in a December memo to employees seen by Reuters on Friday that it was “phasing out outdated programs and materials related to representation and inclusion” and aimed to complete the process by the end of 2024.

“Signaling a shift”

A 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling had conservative groups condemning the plans and threatening to sue the companies. Abolish affirmative action In college admissions decisions.

Just this week, Elon Musk and other Trump allies accused DEI projects, without evidence, of hampering the response to the raging wildfires in Los Angeles.

“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of human resources, said in the memo, which was seen by Reuters and originally reported by Axios.

Gale cited recent Supreme Court rulings that “mark a shift in how U.S. courts will approach DEI projects in the future.”

“The term ‘DEI’ has also come under fire, in part because some see it as a way to imply that certain groups are prioritized over others,” she wrote.

In practical terms, this means Meta will no longer have a team focused on diversity and inclusion, with the company saying it will “focus on how to apply fair and consistent practices to mitigate bias for everyone, no matter your background ”

The company will also end its “diverse approach to hiring,” a strategy that included candidates from diverse talent pools for consideration for each open position.

One employee’s review of Gale’s memo called it “disturbing to read.”

Other companies that have recently ended DEI programs include McDonald’s, automaker Ford, Walmart and agricultural equipment maker John Deere.