Meta has joined the ranks of major companies that are scaling back or, in its case, terminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In a memo sent on Friday, Jan. 10, through Meta’s internal communications tool Workplace, Janelle Gale, the company’s vice president of human resources, announced updates to “our hiring, development, and procurement practices,” effective immediately, according to Axios.
“The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing,” Gale wrote in the memo. “The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI. … The term ‘DEI’ has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others.”
Going forward, Meta will no longer have a dedicated DEI team. Maxine Williams, the company’s standing chief diversity officer, will transition to a new role focused on accessibility and engagement.
Instead of DEI programs, Meta plans to implement initiatives “that focus on applying fair and consistent practices to mitigate bias for everyone, regardless of their background,” Gale wrote.
While the company claims it will continue to seek candidates from diverse backgrounds, it will discontinue the diverse-slate hiring approach that mandates employers consider a diverse pool of candidates for every open position.
Gale also said the company will end its “representation goals,” which can imply bias and suggest that decisions are made based on race or gender.
“Meta has the privilege to serve billions of people every day,” the memo concluded, as Axios reported. “It’s important to us that our products are accessible to all and are useful in promoting economic growth and opportunity around the world. We continue to focus on serving everyone and building a multi-talented, industry-leading workforce from all walks of life.”
The changes to Meta’s DEI practices come three days after the company announced that it was discontinuing its fact-checking system and making changes to its content moderation practices on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, AFROTECH™ reported. Meta will transition to a Community Notes model in the coming months, similar to Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the programs have become “too politically biased” and “destroyed more trust than they’ve created, especially in the U.S.”
“We’ve reached a point where it’s just too many mistakes and too much censorship,” Zuckerberg said, according to AFROTECH™. “The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards once again prioritizing speech, so we’re going to get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms.”
Zuckerberg is one of several prominent technology executives who have established relationships with Donald Trump.
Despite their previously tumultuous relationship, which included Trump’s suspension from Instagram and Facebook after his actions following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on Capitol Hill, Zuckerberg was among those who gathered with the President-elect at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, after his November 2024 victory.
“Congratulations to President Trump on a decisive victory. We have great opportunities ahead of us as a country,” Zuckerberg wrote in a Threads post the day after the election, Business Insider reported. “Looking forward to working with you and your administration.”
In December 2024, Meta confirmed a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund, AFROTECH™ noted.
