In the wake of the mass dismantling of DEI initiatives, this post examines corporate silence and issues a call to action for companies that claim progressive values.
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Corporate silence. It’s a special kind of betrayal that happens when a company claims to stand for justice until it’s no longer trendy.
Essentially, it’s a form of performative activism that I believe many of us are familiar with. Many of us cringe when we hear stories like influencer Madison Beer seemingly using a Black Lives Matter protest as a staged photo-op or when companies change their logos to rainbow flags during Pride Month but continue donating to politicians or organizations with anti-LGBTQ+ agendas.
The difference is that in the first scenario, we can simply roll our eyes or hit unfollow. But in the second scenario, we’re put in a far riskier position—will speaking out against corporate silence and hypocrisy cost us our livelihoods if we work for these companies? Right now, I turn my attention to the dismantling of DEI initiatives in the United States, as well as the cowardice of corporate silence and the importance of taking a stand.
What is DEI?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) refers to organizational policies and practices aimed at promoting representation, fairness, and belonging for individuals from historically marginalized groups.
This encompasses initiatives such as inclusive hiring practices, employee resource groups, bias training, and equitable promotion pathways. While DEI has been integral to many corporate strategies, recent political and economic pressures have led some companies to reevaluate or scale back these commitments.
What is corporate silence?
Corporate silence occurs when organizations choose not to address pressing social or ethical issues, especially those aligning with their stated values, to avoid potential backlash or controversy. This strategic non-engagement often follows a pattern: initial vocal support during heightened public attention, followed by a retreat into silence as the spotlight fades or challenges arise.
When Diversity Becomes a PR Stunt: The Hypocrisy of Corporate Silence
Make no mistake: DEI is under fire thanks to a corrupt administration. But many companies are choosing to comply rather than resist.
A 2025 survey revealed that 1 in 8 companies plan to reduce or eliminate their DEI programs, citing factors like political climate shifts and financial considerations. While major companies, including Google, Meta, and Walmart, have announced major DEI initiative slashes or eliminations, countless other companies have chosen silence.
This silence speaks of hypocrisy, as virtually all modern organizations promote a set of core values. Some popular keywords are diversity, integrity, responsibility, ownership, and compassion. When companies remain silent, it sends a message that their commitment to social justice is conditional, often hinging on public perception and profitability.
This selective engagement undermines trust and can erode the very values organizations claim to uphold. Even if companies don’t care about the morality of this hypocrisy, failure to uphold company values leads to employee outrage and disengagement. And that costs companies majorly, with disengagement estimated to cost companies between 18% and 34% of a disengaged employee’s annual salary.
Don’t believe employee engagement hinges on company values?
- A 2018 survey revealed that 62 percent of workers expect companies to take a stance on issues such as equal rights, immigration, and climate change.
- More recent stats reveal that a whopping 93 percent of employees believe companies must lead with purpose, with 88 percent believing it’s not acceptable for companies to profit at the expense of society.
And if you underestimate the extent of corporate silence, perhaps this example can serve as a reminder. Remember when supporting Ukraine was the bare minimum? When social feeds were blue and yellow, and companies were elbowing each other to show how much they cared? Now, even as millions of Ukrainians remain displaced, the silence is deafening. Why? Because the narrative is no longer trending. There’s no PR incentive.
The same pattern plays out again and again. Trayvon Martin. George Floyd. The Black Lives Matter movement. Each moment sparked waves of corporate solidarity—black squares, polished statements, flashy pledges. But where are those voices now? As soon as the headlines faded and the hashtags stopped trending, so did the urgency. DEI statements disappeared from websites. Pledges were quietly shelved. Budgets were cut.
Because for many corporations, support was never about justice—it was about optics. When visibility stops benefiting the brand, so does the so-called activism.
Companies posted #IStandWithUkraine but balked at even acknowledging Palestine, excusing it as being “too political.” As if some lives are simply more marketable than others. This is what selective solidarity looks like. It’s not about values—it’s about optics.
The Companies Who Walk the Talk—and Those Who Don’t
Thankfully, not every company has chosen silence. Some are still showing us what it means to lead with integrity—even when it’s inconvenient. (Hopefully this ages well!)
- Salesforce continues to publish its diversity metrics and actively supports employee-led resource groups. For them, DEI isn’t a branding exercise—it’s both a business imperative and a moral responsibility.
- Costco and Delta Airlines have stood firm in their commitments, refusing to roll back DEI programs despite right-wing backlash. They’re not just checking boxes; they’re holding the line.
- Marriott International has taken meaningful action by hiring refugees and veterans, proving that inclusion doesn’t stop at marketing—it extends to people’s lives and livelihoods.
These companies aren’t perfect. No one is. But they’re modeling something vital: courage over convenience, and long-term values over short-term optics.
Want to see what being a performative ally looks like when the pressure hits? Unfortunately, many major brands have chosen corporate silence and quietly walked back their DEI promises. Check out this article on six major companies abandoning their DEI. You can also find a reported summary below.
Companies Who Backpedal
As of the date of this publication, May 2025.
Ford Motor Company: Ford is retreating from public commentary on polarizing issues and is believed to have ceased participation in external DEI evaluations like the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
John Deere: The agricultural machinery company announced it would no longer support external social or cultural awareness events and would audit training materials to remove socially motivated content.
Lowe’s: The home improvement retailer informed employees that it would discontinue participation in the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index and consolidate internal employee support resources into a single program.
Harley-Davidson: The motorcycle manufacturer ended its DEI function in April 2024 and eliminated diversity hiring quotas and supplier diversity goals.
Goldman Sachs: The investment bank removed race-specific language from its diversity initiative web pages, particularly those promoting its “One Million Black Women” and “Black in Business” programs, amid increasing legal scrutiny.
Novo Nordisk: The Danish pharmaceutical company announced it would no longer enforce gender representation requirements in its U.S. operations, citing changing legal conditions.
Google: The tech giant ceased its diversity hiring goals tied to representation and is reviewing its DEI programs and initiatives.
Meta: Meta has dismantled its DEI programs, aligning with a broader trend among U.S. companies re-evaluating their DEI policies.
Walmart: The retail giant scaled back its DEI initiatives following pressure from conservative activists and directives from the federal government.
The Moral Cost of Corporate Silence
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
This isn’t about neutrality. Corporate silence is about avoidance—a calculated decision to stay silent, to sidestep controversy, to protect image over integrity.
As scholar Florian Wettstein writes, silence—especially when paired with power—can amount to complicity. If your company has the means to speak out and the influence to lead but chooses not to, they’re not neutral. They’re upholding the very systems they likely claim to challenge.
That’s not leadership. That’s branding.
Yes, companies cannot and should not be expected to take a stand on every issue. And this wasn’t the expectation for the past. But action is what a sizable portion of the current workforce demands.
A refusal to take sides is so often a retreat from responsibility for fear of alienating customers. But at the very least, companies can stop preaching morality and value if they can’t back it with action. There’s nothing brave about being vocal when everyone is shouting, but there is cowardice in looking away when you fear speaking up will cost you. Because make no mistake: the issues circulating the world involve people’s livelihoods and lives.
Every time a company chooses comfort over conscience, it sends a message: our brand’s safety matters more than your actual safety.
More than your dignity. More than your life.
Neutrality is a luxury that only the unaffected can afford. For the rest of the world, silence isn’t just absence—it’s betrayal.
If a company has ever claimed values like integrity, inclusion, or justice, then yes—they owe the world more than a tagline. For starters: clarity, action, and courage.
Corporations may be bigger than individuals as a unit, but do not underestimate the resilience of people, especially those well-versed in hardship.
Continued Reading: Should We Ever Be Blaming Women for Men’s Actions?