Ford joins the list of companies that are reversing DEI policies

Ford Engine is the latest company to backtrack on some of its commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

The automaker has taken a “fresh look” at its DEI policies and practices over the past year to take into account the “ever-evolving external and legal environment related to political and social issues,” according to an internal communication that was shared with Ford global employees and posted on X on Wednesday by an anti-DEI activist. Ford confirmed the letter was authentic and said it had no additional comment on the matter.

Ford's move follows that of retailers Supply of tractorswhich was one of the first major companies to halt its DEI efforts, having severed ties earlier this summer with the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and withdrawn DEI goals like increasing the number of employees of color at the management level. Harley Davidson It also decided last week to stop consulting HRC’s metrics for the treatment of LGBTQ+ employees and said it does not have a DEI function.

Home improvement retailer Lowe's It also joined the efforts earlier this week and noted that it may also make additional policy changes over time.

Companies have cited conservative backlash or changes in the social and political environment in their announcements.

In its memo Wednesday, Ford said it will not use quotas for minority-owned dealers or suppliers, adding that it has no hiring quotas.

The automaker will also no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, as well as several other “best places to work” lists.

The Human Rights Campaign annually rates participating companies based on their corporate equality measures for LGBTQ+ people, including practices such as offering health benefits to spouses regardless of gender and having differentiated outreach initiatives for the LGBTQ+ community. In previous years, Ford had received a perfect score on the index.

“As a global company, we will continue to focus our efforts and resources on caring for our customers, our people and our communities, rather than commenting publicly on the many polarizing issues of the day,” Ford said in the statement sent to employees. “Of course, there will be times when we speak out on critical issues if we believe our voice can make a positive difference.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action at universities, a growing number of conservative activists on social media have called on companies to stop investing in DEI.

“There's an old saying: If you give an inch, people take a mile, and that's basically what we've seen when the Supreme Court issued a very specific ruling for higher education institutions,” industrial and organizational psychologist Derek Avery told CNBC. “Conservative state attorneys general sent letters to corporations warning them that they could expect to be sued if they continued to advocate and promote DEI practices within their organizations that could be construed as contrary to the Supreme Court ruling, even though the Supreme Court ruling had no bearing on those corporate initiatives.”