Walmart plans to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion—or DEI—initiatives, the retail giant said on Monday.
“We’ve been on a journey and know we aren’t perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone,” the company said in a statement.
The company announced it will refrain from financing events aimed to sexually influence children, stop participating in the Human Rights Coalition’s Corporate Equality Index, and remove the gender-neutral term “Latinx” from its documents, according to conservative filmmaker Robby Starbuck, who had been talking to Walmart for a story he was doing featuring the company’s DEI initiatives.
The company’s Supplier Inclusion program will also be changed, which was criticized due to its tendency to give “preferential treatment on the basis of race.” Its purpose was to assist suppliers who were over 51 percent owned by protected classes, such as minorities, women, and LGBT individuals.
The retail giant said it would not provide further funding beyond its 2020 commitment of $100 million to its nonprofit Center for Racial Equity, for which it promised funding for five years.
Walmart will also “identify and remove inappropriate sexual and/or transgender products marketed to children,” such as chest binders, which it sells on its website.
Starbuck said that Walmart contacted him after they became aware of his investigation.
“After various conversations, I am very proud to report to you guys that Walmart has decided on making some changes,” Starbuck stated in the video on Monday. He is calling Walmart’s turnaround a “massive win” for the conservative movement, which supporters said is supportive of equality of opportunity over the equality of outcome outlined in DEI policies.
Companies including Lowe’s, Ford, Jack Daniel’s, John Deere, Tractor Supply, and Harley-Davidson have dropped their DEI practices, Starbuck noted.
The changes come amid growing concerns over DEI policies and programs in corporate America and other sectors of society.
President-elect Trump has said he intends to start rooting out what he called divisive policies in the U.S. military on day one of his new administration.
Trump’s Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth is expected to fire generals who exercise DEI in the military. Appearing on the Shawn Ryan Show earlier this month, Hegseth said, “Any general that was involved, general, admiral, whatever that was involved in any of the DEI” must be removed.
According to the Fortune 500, Walmart is the biggest company in the world, by revenue. Forbes predicts that Walmart’s 2024 revenue will be $657.3 billion, an increase of $46 billion from last year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.