Walmart rolls back DEI efforts and policies

Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has become the latest corporation to back away from diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives amid growing pressure ahead of Black Friday and the holiday shopping season. The latest drive was led (again) by influencer and political activist Robby Starbuck, who called it the “biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America.” The policy decision by the biggest U.S. retailer and private employer is likely to send shockwaves across Corporate America, especially for larger competitors like Amazon (AMZN) and Target (TGT).

Roll them back, roll them out: Walmart (WMT) will stop using the terms “DEI” and “LatinX” in its communications, as well as curbing racial equity training for staff and diversity hiring guidelines. It will also no longer factor in race and gender when granting supplier contracts, while eligibility for financing will not be based on certain demographic data. Walmart (WMT) will additionally remove all “sexual and/or transgender products marketed to children,” review all funding for LGBT+ Pride events, and stop participating in the Human Rights Council’s LGBT+ equality index.

“So far you’ve helped me change corporate policy at Tractor Supply (TSCO), John Deere (DE), Harley Davidson (HOG), Polaris (PII), Indian Motorcycle (PII), Lowe’s (LOW), Ford (F), Coors (TAP), Stanley Black & Decker (SWK), Jack Daniels (BF.B), DeWalt tools (SWK), Craftsman (SWK), Caterpillar (CAT), Boeing (BA), Toyota (TM) and now WALMART!” Starbuck said on X. “I don’t ask companies to take on my political views. I am simply advocating for corporate neutrality and believe that is the future.”

More on DEI

• Boeing said to dismantle diversity department, DEI head quits
• DEI pullback: Molson Coors drops diversity policies
• Ford joins growing list of companies revising DEI policies amid backlash
• Harley-Davidson to review DEI policies following fallout from activist campaign
• Deere cuts some diversity policies amid social-media backlash