Trump impact? Meta, Amazon modify hiring policy amid growing political risks

As US President-elect Donald Trump gears up to take over the Oval Office, reports are emerging that Meta and Amazon have modified their hiring programmes. The tech giants joined hundreds of firms in corporate America that are rolling back on the hiring and training initiatives which have been widely criticised by the Conservatives in the past.

This comes amid a key move by Meta, the parent company of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, ending a fact-checking programme in the US that was criticised by Trump and several Republican leaders. While getting rid of the diversity initiatives, Meta sent out a memo to staff about its decision, BBC reported.

The company maintained that the move affects, hiring, supplier and training efforts, Meta cited a “shifting legal and policy landscape” as the main reason behind its latest decision. Meta follows companies like Walmart and McDonalds which have made similar decisions regarding diversity efforts. All the companies decided to make policy changes soon after Trump won the 2024 US elections.

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Companies hide behind Supreme Court ruling

In its memo to the staff, Meta supported its move by citing a Supreme Court ruling concerning race in college admissions. The company said that the term ‘DEI’ (diversity, equity and inclusion) had become “charged,” BBC reported. The tech giant assured that it would continue to look for diverse staff but it will end its current approach of making selections from a pool of diverse candidates.

In December last year, Amazon sent out a memo to its employees stating that it is “winding down outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion. The company noted that it aims to complete the process by the end of 2024.

“Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes — and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture,” Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s VP of inclusive experiences and technology, wrote in the note which was first reported by Bloomberg on Friday. Before Trump assumed power, financial firms like JPMorgan Chase and BlackRock, also pulled out of groups focused on risks from climate change.

In the past, Republicans have accused all the firms of “woke” progressive activism and threatened to issue political punishments in this regard. Big brands such as Bud Light and Target also faced backlash and boycotts due to their efforts to appeal to LGBTQ customers.

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The origin of it all

It is pertinent to note that several diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives were introduced in corporate America following the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd at the hands of the police.

In 2023, the US Supreme Court struck down the right for private universities to consider race in admissions decisions. Meanwhile, another court of appeals ruling invalidated a Nasdaq policy that would have required companies listed on that stock exchange to have at least one woman, racial minority or LGBTQ person on their board. The company was obligated to explain why in case the board is not diverse.

In the midst of all this, Meta also announced that it is ending its efforts to work with suppliers who are “diverse” but will instead focus on small and medium-sized companies. The tech giant also plans to offer “equity and inclusion” training and instead offer programmes that “mitigate bias for all, no matter your background”.

(The story has been modified for improved accuracy.)