Walmart Rolls Back DEI Programs After Right-Wing Backlash

New York
CNN
—

Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, will curb some diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. It is the latest company to backtrack on diversity initiatives in the face of pressure from the right.

The company said Monday it is ending racial equity training programs for staff and evaluating programs designed to increase supplier diversity. Walmart has worked to increase the number of suppliers that are at least 51% owned or managed by a woman, minority, veteran or someone who is LGBTQ in recent years.

The company also reviews all funding for Pride and other events and monitors its online marketplace to remove sexual or transgender products marketed to children. Walmart also said it will not expand its Center for Racial Equity, a five-year, $100 million philanthropic commitment the company made in 2020 to address the root causes of achievement gaps for African-Americans in education, health, criminal justice and other areas.

“We are willing to change together with our employees and customers who represent all of America,” Walmart said in a statement. “We’ve been on a journey and know we’re not perfect, but every decision comes from a place where we want to foster a sense of belonging.”

Activist Robby Starbuck, who has campaigned against companies for diversity programs, took credit for many of the changes and said he had contacted the company about its policies.

“This is the biggest victory yet for our movement,” Starbuck said on the social media platform X.

Starbuck, a former Hollywood music video director turned conservative activist, has taken fire for online campaigns against major corporate DEI programs and other progressive initiatives.

Walmart joins Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply Co., John Deere and other companies in revising or withdrawing their DEI programs, support for Pride marches and LGBTQ events, strategies to curb climate change and other social policies .