Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is rolling back several diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies following pressure from conservative groups. The Bentonville, Arkansas-based company confirmed the changes on Monday, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
The retailer stated it would stop using race and gender as criteria to increase diversity in supplier contracts, adding that it does not and will not implement quotas. Walmart also announced it would cease collecting demographic data when determining eligibility for financing grants.
In a statement shared with ABC News, Walmart emphasized its long-standing mission to serve a diverse customer base. “Our purpose, to help people save money and live better, has been at our core since our founding 62 years ago and continues to guide us today,” the company said. “We’ve been on a journey and know we aren’t perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers, and to be a Walmart for everyone.”
The revisions also extend to Walmart’s third-party marketplace. The retailer said it would monitor listings to ensure products such as chest binders, often used by transgender youth, are not marketed to minors. Additionally, Walmart plans to review its financial support for Pride events, aiming to avoid supporting “sexualized content targeting kids,” according to The Associated Press.
These policy shifts align Walmart with other major corporations that have scaled back DEI programs under scrutiny from conservative activists. Among the changes, Walmart will discontinue racial equity training provided by the Racial Equity Institute, withdraw from the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, and eliminate the use of the term “Latinx.”
The changes follow conversations between Walmart and conservative commentator Robby Starbuck, who announced the company’s revisions on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). “This is the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America,” Starbuck wrote. He credited these outcomes to his discussions with Walmart and described them as a significant step in reversing corporate DEI practices.
Walmart’s decision reflects a broader debate over the role of DEI initiatives in corporate America, as companies face increasing scrutiny from various political and social movements.