Walmart Rolls Back DEI Measures

Walmart, the nation's largest private employer, has become the latest company to reduce diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures.

The Details: After anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck told Walmart he was going to report on "wokeness" at the company, Starbuck met with Walmart and "had productive conversations." Walmart said the changes had been in the works for years and were not a result of the conversations with Starbuck.

The Changes: Walmart said it would not renew the racial equity center it created in 2020 and would, like Ford and John Deere, no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, which surveys policies pertinent to LGBTQ+ employees. It will also remove “inappropriate sexual and/or transgender products marketed to children,” including chest binders marketed to minors. It is removing the terms "Latinx" and "DEI" from official communications, opting for the word "belonging" instead. The company will continue to support Pride celebrations and will review grants for community events to make sure they are appropriate environments for children.

How the Media Covered It: Several outlets on the left framed DEI programs as coming under "attack" from conservatives. They also referred to the Supreme Court decision overruling affirmative action as emboldening those opposed to DEI. The Guardian (Left bias) called the decision a "a major blow to inclusion efforts." The Washington Times (Lean Right) and Fox Business (Lean Right) did not mention the SCOTUS case. Fox Business framed the changes as a "growing trend" of "major companies in ditching controversial DEI initiatives," not mentioning that the trend has been driven in part by conservative activists.