Target Ends DEI Programs Amid Lawsuit and Pressure from Trump

Jan 24, 2025, 08:12 PM

Target Corp. announced on Friday that it is rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including workforce and supplier diversity programs. The move makes Target the latest major company to retreat from such policies, joining Walmart, McDonald's, and Meta. The decision follows pressure from President Donald Trump and conservative activists, with Trump recently signing an executive order directing government agencies to investigate DEI programs at major corporations. Target will conclude its three-year DEI goals, end its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) committee, and stop reporting to the Human Rights Campaign. The company faced backlash over its LGBTQ Pride merchandise earlier in the year. Additionally, America First Legal filed a lawsuit against Target for allegedly misleading shareholders by not disclosing risks tied to its LGBTQ activism, and a federal court ruled that Target may have violated federal securities laws. Target stated that it understands the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape.