**Excerpt:**
The corporate landscape in the United States is undergoing a profound shift as companies increasingly scale back or eliminate their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. This trend, fueled by political pressure from the Trump administration and conservative activists, has sparked a heated debate about the role of DEI in business and society. Following executive orders targeting DEI initiatives in the federal government and military, private companies and universities have faced mounting pressure to abandon these programs. Major corporations, including Google, Meta, and financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, have scaled back or rebranded their DEI efforts. However, some companies, such as Apple and Costco, have resisted the trend, reaffirming their commitment to diversity and inclusion. The debate, further complicated by the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision ending affirmative action in college admissions, raises critical questions about the future of corporate culture and social equity. As the corporate world grapples with these challenges, the fate of DEI initiatives remains uncertain, with far-reaching implications for businesses and society.
