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Google Scales Back DEI Initiatives, Drops Hiring Goals for Underrepresented Groups

Alphabet’s Google is eliminating its diversity hiring targets and reassessing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, aligning with a broader trend among U.S. corporations scaling back such efforts.

In a staff email reviewed by Reuters, Alphabet’s Chief People Officer, Fiona Cicconi, stated, “In 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on growing our offices outside California and New York to improve representation... but in the future, we will no longer have aspirational goals.”

Google had been one of the leading advocates for workplace diversity following the 2020 protests against police brutality. That year, CEO Sundar Pichai pledged to increase leadership representation from underrepresented groups by 30% by 2025. At the time, 96% of Google’s U.S. leadership was white or Asian, and 73% of leaders worldwide were men.

In 2021, the company linked executive performance evaluations to diversity and inclusion progress, particularly after a high-profile AI researcher alleged she was fired for criticizing Google's DEI efforts. Chief Diversity Officer Melonie Parker stated in a 2024 BBC interview that Google had achieved 60% of its five-year diversity targets.

However, an Alphabet spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that there were no updated figures on Pichai’s goal.

Additionally, Google removed a statement from its annual U.S. SEC filing that had previously emphasized its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The spokesperson explained that the removal reflects an ongoing review of the company's DEI programs.

The Alphabet Workers Union (AWU) criticized the move, with AWU President and software engineer Parul Koul calling it "an attack on the progress workers have made in fighting racism, gender, and LGBTQ discrimination in tech."

Federal Compliance & Industry Trends

As a federal contractor, Google is also reviewing policy changes prompted by past executive orders aimed at restricting DEI initiatives in government and federal contracting. Cicconi noted in her email that the company is evaluating recent court decisions and executive actions to ensure compliance.

Despite these changes, Google will continue to support internal employee groups such as "Trans at Google," "Black Googler Network," and "Disability Alliance," which help shape company policies and products.

Other tech giants have also scaled back DEI programs. In January, Meta announced it was discontinuing its DEI hiring, training, and supplier diversity initiatives. Amazon has similarly begun phasing out older DEI-related programs, according to an internal memo.

The shift comes amid growing pressure from conservative groups emboldened by the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action in university admissions, leading to increased scrutiny and legal threats against corporate DEI efforts.

Paraphrasing text from "Reuters" all rights reserved by the original author.