Target reportedly ending diversity programs

Target is rolling back DEI programs.

Media reports indicate Target Inc. is the latest retailer to scale back on its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

The reports were confirmed by a "fact sheet" Target posted on its web site regarding its "belonging at the Bullseye Strategy." The company said it is concluding its three-year diversity, equity and inclusion goals. It also is concluding its racial equity action and change (REACH) initiatives in 2025 "as planned."

In addition, Target said it is stopping all external diversity-focused surveys, including HRC’s Corporate Equality Index, and evolving its “Supplier Diversity” team to “Supplier Engagement” to better reflect "our inclusive global procurement process across a broad range of suppliers, including increasing our focus on small businesses."

In addition, Target plans to end a program it launched in 2021 to spend more than $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025 and increase the number of products from Black-owned businesses that it carries in stores and online, reported CNBC.

"Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Fernandez said in the memo as reported by CNBC. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future – all in service of driving Target’s growth and winning together.”

A Target spokesperson told CNBC that no jobs will be eliminated as a result of this decision regarding its DEI policies.

A growing number of retailers have eliminated or cut back on their DEI programs in the past year or so. In August 2024, Lowe’s said it will no longer participate in surveys for Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group supporting LGBTQ rights and will no longer sponsor or participate in community events such as parades, festivals, or fairs and might also make additional changes to the policies over time.

In June 2024, Tractor Supply Company announced a series of changes to its environmental, social and governance initiatives that included the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion goals and the end of support for Pride events.

In other changes, the company will no longer submit data to the Human Rights Campaign, and it withdrew its carbon emission goals. Other retailers including Walmart, McDonald’s and Harley Davidson Co. have rolled back DEI programs.

In a June 2023 decision, the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in higher education admission decisions. The ruling trigged groups and politicians opposed to diversity policies in the corporate sector to organize and speak up.

More recently, President Trump issued an executive order on the first day of his presidency to end affirmative action in the federal government and publicly criticized DEI policies.