Official announcements from major U.S. airlines or credible news sources

Southwest Airlines Ends DEI Employment Practices After America First Legal's Federal Complaint

Dec 3, 2024, 10:42 PM

Southwest Airlines has announced it will terminate all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) employment practices following a federal civil rights complaint from America First Legal (AFL). The U.S. Department of Labor confirmed that the airline will no longer engage in race and sex-based discrimination in hiring and promotions. This decision comes after an investigation by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which found the airline's DEI practices to be in violation of federal law. The move has been characterized as a significant shift away from what some critics describe as 'illegal' DEI initiatives, marking a broader trend among companies reassessing their diversity programs.