Walmart, the world’s largest retailer
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, has announced it will be scaling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives amid legal and political challenges. The company will no longer prioritize minority- or women-owned suppliers, participate in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion indexes, nor renew its racial equity center. The rollback follows legal challenges to DEI programs, including a Supreme Court ruling in 2023 that ended affirmative action.
Join us in this slideshow as we explore Walmart’s recent changes.
Starbucks
Walmart joins companies like Starbucks, JPMorgan Chase, and Ford, which have adjusted DEI policies in response to conservative pressure over the past year.
Willing to change
A spokesperson for Walmart said, “We are willing to change alongside our associates and customers who represent all of America.”
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck
Conservative activist Robby Starbuck said, “I had written to Walmart last week about ‘doing a story on wokeness there,’ but ended up having productive talks on DEI with the retailer instead.”
Companies are seeing a big legal risk
Dan Lennington, deputy counsel at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, said, “Companies are seeing a big legal risk in continuing with DEI efforts.”
Treating people as members of racial groups
Lennington added, “We have a legal landscape within the entire federal government, all three branches — the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress and the President — are all now firmly pointed in the direction towards equality of individuals and individualized treatment of all Americans, instead of diversity, equity and inclusion treating people as members of racial groups.”
May undermine anti-discrimination laws
Conservative groups, like America First Legal, have driven lawsuits against DEI, and the Trump administration’s return is expected to push further rollbacks. Critics, including civil rights leaders, warned that Walmart’s decision may undermine anti-discrimination laws.
Public support for workplace diversity
Public support for workplace diversity initiatives is in decline, with a Pew survey showing only 52% of workers view DEI efforts positively, down from 56% earlier in 2023.
Pamela Prince-Eason
Pamela Prince-Eason, president and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, wrote, “I suspect Walmart will continue to have one of the most inclusive supply chains in the World.”
Ability to serve the communities
Prince-Eason added, “Any retailer’s ability to serve the communities they operate in will continue to value understanding their customers, (many of which are women), in order to better provide products and services desired and no one understands customers better than Walmart.”