Google has become the latest major U.S. corporation to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) recruitment targets following an annual review of its corporate policies. The tech giant is also reassessing several of its other DEI initiatives, marking a significant shift in its approach to workplace diversity.
The move comes amid increasing political and legal scrutiny. U.S. President Donald Trump and his allies have long criticized DEI policies, and since his return to the White House just over two weeks ago, he has ordered government agencies to eliminate such initiatives.
“We’re committed to creating a workplace where all our employees can succeed and have equal opportunities,” a Google spokesperson stated. “We’ve updated our [annual investor report] language to reflect this, and as a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes required following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic.”
The policy shift was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Between 2021 and 2024, Google’s investor reports emphasized its commitment to integrating DEI into all aspects of its operations. However, this language was noticeably absent from its latest report, published on Wednesday.
Google had previously been an outspoken proponent of DEI targets, particularly in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020 and the subsequent global protests. At that time, CEO Sundar Pichai set a five-year goal to increase the representation of underrepresented groups in leadership roles by 30%. According to company data, the proportion of Black leaders nearly doubled between 2020 and 2023, while representation of women and Latino executives also saw growth.
Google’s reversal follows similar moves by other corporate giants, including Meta, Amazon, Pepsi, McDonald’s, and Walmart, all of which have scaled back their DEI programs. In contrast, Apple has resisted this trend. Last month, the company’s board urged investors to reject a proposal from the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to abolish its DEI initiatives, arguing such policies expose firms to “litigation, reputational, and financial risks.”
Legal challenges related to DEI policies are mounting. Last week, the retail chain Target was sued by shareholders, led by the City of Riviera Beach Police Pension Fund in Florida, who accused the company of misleading investors about the risks associated with its DEI initiatives. The lawsuit referenced a 2023 backlash over LGBTQ+ merchandise, which reportedly impacted sales and stock prices. In response, Target has also recently announced the termination of its DEI targets.
The Trump administration’s opposition to DEI programs was further underscored last week when the president speculated—without providing evidence—that DEI policies had contributed to an air crash in Washington, D.C. The remark, made less than 24 hours after the incident, aligns with the White House’s ongoing efforts to dismantle such initiatives.
As more corporations shift away from DEI commitments, the future of workplace diversity policies in the U.S. remains uncertain.
