AT&T, a leading telecommunications and media company, has announced the termination of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. This decision was communicated in a letter to Brendan Carr, Chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The letter signifies a broader trend among U.S. companies reassessing DEI initiatives following a 2023 Supreme Court decision that invalidated Harvard’s race-based affirmative action criteria, prompting legal scrutiny of corporate DEI policies.
The Trump administration has also opposed DEI, with an executive order issued on the President’s first day in office ending all federal DEI programmes. Carr, a Trump appointee, has cautioned that the FCC might impede transactions for companies endorsing DEI policies. AT&T’s letter forms part of its application to acquire wireless spectrum licenses from U.S. Cellular.
Despite AT&T’s 2023 annual report highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion, the company has committed to eliminating DEI-related roles and practices. The letter outlines that AT&T’s hiring, training, and career development processes will not consider race, gender, or other protected characteristics, and DEI-related training has been discontinued. Furthermore, AT&T confirmed that its procurement strategies are devoid of demographic targets and suppliers are not required to meet such goals.
The letter stated: “We have closely followed the recent Executive Orders, Supreme Court Rulings and guidance issued by the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, and have adjusted our employment and business practices to ensure that they comply with all applicable laws and related requirements, including ending DEI-related policies… not just in name, but in substance.”
Following the letter’s submission, Carr remarked: “AT&T has now memorialised its commitment to ending DEI-related policies in an FCC filing and ‘will not have any roles focused on DEI.’”
The announcement follows significant changes announced earlier this year concerning DEI policies.
