Walmart to reverse some diversity policies amid pressure from conservatives (#1682089)

Walmart plans to scale back some of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a spokesperson for the retailer said Monday, joining a growing list of companies feeling pressure from conservative groups.

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Bloomberg News reported that Walmart will no longer consider race and gender to boost diversity when awarding supplier contracts and that eligibility for financing will not be evaluated based on suppliers providing certain demographic data.

The retailer will reduce racial equity training, stop participating in rankings by an LGBTQ advocacy group and review its support for Pride and other events, the report added.

A Walmart spokesperson confirmed the Bloomberg report.

“We are ready to change together with our associates and customers who represent the entire United States,” the spokesperson said.

The world's largest retailer will now join companies like Starbucks, JPMorgan Chase and Ford that changed their DEI policies over the past year in response to pressure from conservatives.

Walmart's move follows a post on X by conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who revealed changes to Walmart's DEI policy ahead of the Bloomberg report.

Starbuck said he had written to Walmart last week about “doing a woke story there,” but ended up having productive conversations about DEI with the retailer.

Starbuck has scrutinized and confronted companies over their employment policies.

Ford, Lowe's, Harley-Davidson, tractor maker Deere & Co and brewer Molson Coors are among companies that have said they would end some diversity policies after coming under attack from Starbuck, according to the Financial Times, which interviewed the activist in September.