In an internal memorandum addressed to employees, authorized by Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, the company communicated significant changes, including the discontinuation of its diverse slate hiring strategy and the dissolution of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team.
This decision has been prompted by what Meta characterizes as "a changing legal and policy landscape," following recent Supreme Court rulings that have negatively impacted initiatives aimed at enhancing diversity within United States universities.
The memorandum, which was initially reported by Axios, was released shortly after Meta restructured its content moderation policies, including the termination of its fact-checking program within the United States for Facebook and Instagram. This change represents a substantial shift that aligns with the priorities of incoming President Donald Trump.
The announcement reflects ongoing grievances voiced by Trump's Republican Party, as well as comments from Elon Musk, regarding the practices of fact-checking and moderating hate speech within social media platforms.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, has proactively sought to mend relations with Trump since his electoral victory in November, which includes a donation of $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund and the hiring of a Republican as his chief of public affairs.
On the preceding Friday, Zuckerberg participated in an interview with prominent podcaster Joe Rogan, during which he expressed strong criticism of the Biden administration for its requests to impose censorship on Meta platforms during the corona virus pandemic.
Trump has consistently been a vocal critic of Meta and Zuckerberg, alleging bias against him and threatening retaliatory measures against the tech executive upon his possible return to office.
Republicans have also expressed strong opposition to DEI programs within corporate America, many of which were established in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the nation's efforts to address enduring racial inequities.
In the wake of Trump's electoral victory in November, several high-profile brands, including Walmart, Ford, John Deere, Lowe's, Harley-Davidson, and Jack Daniel's, have similarly reduced their initiatives aimed at supporting minority groups.
In its memorandum, Meta indicated that its Chief Diversity Officer, Maxine Williams, will transition to a new role concentrating on accessibility and engagement, as the company phases out its dedicated DEI programs.
The parent company of Facebook and Instagram will also discontinue its supplier diversity initiative, which previously prioritized engagement with diverse-owned businesses. Instead, Meta will concentrate on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises more broadly.
The memorandum emphasized, "We serve everyone," stating that the company will continue to recruit candidates from varied backgrounds while eliminating specific representation objectives for women and ethnic minorities that had been previously established.