Tag: DEI

  • Trump DEI changes stir discussion from Colman Domingo at Time dinner




    Colman Domingo, a prominent actor and activist, recently shared his thoughts on the controversial diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) changes implemented by the Trump administration during a dinner hosted by Time magazine. The changes, which have sparked heated discussions across the country, aim to reshape the way DEI initiatives are approached in various sectors.

    Domingo, known for his outspoken advocacy for social justice issues, expressed his concerns about the potential implications of these changes on marginalized communities. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that DEI efforts are not only inclusive but also effective in addressing systemic inequalities.

    During the dinner, Domingo engaged in a lively conversation with other attendees, sharing his insights on the need for meaningful and sustainable DEI reforms. He called for a more holistic approach to diversity and inclusion, one that goes beyond surface-level changes and actively dismantles systemic barriers.

    As the debate around DEI continues to evolve, Domingo’s perspective serves as a reminder of the ongoing work needed to create a more equitable and inclusive society. His words resonate with many who believe that true progress can only be achieved through genuine and comprehensive efforts towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.

    Tags:

    1. Trump administration
    2. DEI changes
    3. Colman Domingo
    4. Time dinner
    5. Diversity
    6. Inclusion
    7. Discussion
    8. Current events
    9. Political news
    10. Social impact.

    #Trump #DEI #stir #discussion #Colman #Domingo #Time #dinner

  • The CDC Is Altering Data to Follow Trump’s DEI Order


    Updated at 5:53 p.m. on January 31, 2025

    Last night, scientists began to hear cryptic and foreboding warnings from colleagues: Go to the CDC website, and download your data now. They were all telling one another the same thing: Data on the website were about to disappear, or be altered, to comply with the Trump administration’s ongoing attempt to scrub federal agencies of any mention of gender, DEI, and accessibility. “I was up until 2 a.m.,” Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan who relies on the CDC’s data to track viral outbreaks, told me. She archived whatever she could.

    What they feared quickly came to pass. Already, content from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which includes data from a national survey, has disappeared; so have parts of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s Social Vulnerability Index and the Environmental Justice Index. The CDC’s landing page for HIV data has also vanished. And the agency’s AtlasPlus tool, which contains nearly 20 years of CDC surveillance data on HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis, is down. Several scientists I talked with told me they had heard directly from contacts at the CDC that the agency has directed employees to scrub any mention of “gender” from its site and the data that it shares there, replacing it with “sex.”

    The full scope of the purge isn’t yet clear. One document obtained by The Atlantic indicated that the government was, as of yesterday evening, intending to target and replace, at a minimum, several “suggested keywords”—including “pregnant people, transgender, binary, non-binary, gender, assigned at birth, binary [sic], non-binary [sic], cisgender, queer, gender identity, gender minority, anything with pronouns”—in CDC content. While these terms are often politicized, some represent demographic variables that researchers collect when tracking the ebb and flow of diseases and health conditions across populations. Should they be reworded, or even removed entirely, from data sets to comply with the executive order, researchers and health-care providers might have a much harder time figuring out how diseases affect specific communities—making it more challenging to serve Americans on the whole.

    CDC data’s “explicit purpose” is to guide researchers toward the places and people who most need attention, Patrick Sullivan, an epidemiologist at Emory University and a former CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officer, told me. As the changes unfold before him, he said, “it’s hard to understand how this benefits health.”

    When I contacted the CDC, a spokesperson redirected my requests for comment to the Department of Health and Human Services. After this story was published, an HHS spokesperson said that “all changes to the HHS website and HHS division websites are in accordance with President Trump’s January 20 Executive Orders” on gender and DEI.

    The government appears to understand that these changes could have scientific implications: The document directing a review of CDC content suggests that some work could be altered without “changing the meaning or scientific integrity of the content,” and that any such changes should be considered “routine.” Changing other content, according to the document, would require review by an expert precisely because any alterations would risk scientific integrity. But the document does not specify how data would be sorted into those categories, or at whose discretion.

    “My fear is that in the short term, entire data sets would be taken down,” then reappear with demographic variables removed or altered to conform with DEI restrictions, Katie Biello, an epidemiologist at Brown, told me. Excising mention of gender and sexual orientation, for instance, from public-health data sets could require stripping entire columns of data out. If the government chooses to define sex as binary, transgender people and nonbinary people, among others, could be effectively erased. In response to the ongoing changes, some groups of researchers are now rushing to archive the CDC website in full.

    Acknowledging and addressing health differences among demographic groups is a basic epidemiological tenet, Biello told me, “so we know where to target our health interventions.” She pointed to examples in her own field: Gay men have higher rates of STIs, but lower rates of obesity; transgender women have higher rates of HIV, but lower rates of prostate cancer. More broadly, demographic changes to data sets could limit the country’s ability to identify which Americans are most at risk from an expansive list of conditions including adolescent depression, STIs, even sex-specific cancers. Changing data sets in this way would be tantamount to “erasing our ability to use data and evidence” to care for people, Rachel Hardeman, a health-equity expert at the University of Minnesota, told me.

    Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Brown, pointed to mpox as a recent example of how replacing “gender” with “sex,” or ignoring sexual orientation, could limit effective public-health responses. At the beginning of the United States’ 2022 outbreak, neither researchers nor the public had much clarity on who was most affected, leading to widespread panic. “Officials were talking about the situation as if it was a risk we equally faced,” Nuzzo said. By collecting detailed demographic information, researchers were able to show that the disease was primarily affecting men who have sex with men, allowing officials to more efficiently allocate resources, including vaccines, and bring the epidemic under control before it affected Americans more widely.

    A scrub such as this could also change how the government allocates funds for long-standing threats to public health, which could widen health-equity gaps, or reverse progress in combatting them. Rates of STIs more generally have recently begun to plateau in the U.S., after decades of steady increase—but altering data that focus interventions on, say, transgender populations, or men who have sex with men, could undo those gains. If no data exist to prove that a health issue concentrates within a particular community, that “provides a justification to cut funding,” one researcher told me. (Several scientists who spoke with me for this article requested anonymity, for fear of retaliation for speaking out about the loss of federal data.) Sullivan, whose work focuses on HIV surveillance, compared the government’s actions to, effectively, destroying the road map to determining who in America most needs screening, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment.

    Much of the data on the CDC website have been aggregated from states, so it would be possible for researchers to reassemble those data sets, Nuzzo pointed out. But that’s an onerous task, and several scientists told me they never thought they’d be in a position where they’d have to scramble to squirrel away publicly available federal data. Nuzzo also worried that states might be reluctant in the future to share data with the federal government, or might decide not to bother collecting certain data at all. On the most basic scientific level, changing federal-government data means those data become unreliable. Public-health data are collected with the intention of sussing out which populations most need health interventions; altering those data leaves behind a skewed portrait of reality.



    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come under scrutiny after reports surfaced that the agency is altering data to align with President Trump’s recent executive order banning critical race theory and diversity training in federal agencies.

    The order, which aims to combat what the administration calls “divisive and anti-American propaganda,” has prompted concerns that the CDC is now censoring information related to race and inequality in public health data.

    Critics argue that by altering data to fit the administration’s narrative, the CDC is compromising its integrity and undermining its mission to provide accurate and unbiased information to the public.

    This move raises serious questions about the politicization of public health data and the potential impact on efforts to address systemic racism and health disparities in the United States.

    It is crucial that the CDC remains independent and transparent in its data collection and reporting, and that any attempts to manipulate information for political purposes are met with swift condemnation and accountability.

    The public health of our nation depends on the CDC’s ability to provide reliable and unbiased data, and any efforts to undermine this vital role must be met with resistance.

    Tags:

    1. CDC data manipulation
    2. Trump DEI order impact on CDC
    3. CDC changing data for Trump
    4. Trump administration influence on CDC data
    5. CDC data accuracy under Trump
    6. CDC data integrity concerns
    7. Trump’s DEI order and CDC data alteration
    8. Political influence on CDC data
    9. CDC data transparency issues
    10. CDC data manipulation controversy

    #CDC #Altering #Data #Follow #Trumps #DEI #Order

  • Il messaggio dei tifosi: “Le rivoluzioni non si annunciano, si fanno”


    PUBBLICATO DA
    La Redazione

    02 Febbraio 2025 – 19:41

    La sfida di campionato tra Roma e Napoli si avvicina. Manca ormai poco più di un’ora, poi le due formazioni si affronteranno allo Stadio Olimpico. Intanto i tifosi giallorossi hanno voluto esporre uno striscione fuori dall’impianto: “Società di calcio o immobiliare in affanno? Le rivoluzioni non si annunciano, le rivoluzioni si fanno“. Firmato ‘Settore XVII‘.

    Il messaggio sembra essere rivolto ai Friedkin e alla mancata rivoluzione (di cui si era parlato in seguito al ko di Como) nel corso del calciomercato di gennaio.

    © RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA



    Carissimi tifosi,

    Siamo qui per comunicarvi un messaggio importante: “Le rivoluzioni non si annunciano, si fanno”.

    In questo momento di transizione e cambiamento nel nostro club, è fondamentale che restiamo uniti e solidali. Le critiche e le lamentele non ci porteranno da nessuna parte se non ci impegniamo attivamente per creare un cambiamento positivo.

    Ognuno di noi ha un ruolo da svolgere nella costruzione di un futuro migliore per la nostra squadra. Dobbiamo sostenere i giocatori, lo staff tecnico e la dirigenza, ma allo stesso tempo dobbiamo essere critici e esigenti quando necessario.

    Non aspettiamo che qualcun altro faccia la rivoluzione al posto nostro. Siamo noi, i veri protagonisti della storia del nostro club, e spetta a noi prendere in mano le redini del cambiamento.

    Siamo pronti a lottare per i nostri colori, a difendere la nostra squadra e a costruire insieme un futuro di successo.

    Forza squadra, forza tifosi. Insieme possiamo fare grandi cose.

    #RivoluzioneCalcio #ForzaSquadra #UnitiPerLaVittoria

    Tags:

    • tifosi italiani
    • rivoluzioni nel calcio
    • tifosi e cambiamento
    • frasi di tifosi famose
    • calcio e passione
    • frase motivazionale tifosi
    • tifosi e rivoluzione nel calcio
    • frasi calcistiche italiane
    • tifosi e cambiamento nel calcio
    • il potere dei tifosi

    #messaggio #dei #tifosi #rivoluzioni #annunciano #fanno

  • After Donald Trump Blamed The DC Plane Crash On DEI, Stephen Colbert Spotted 1 Recurring Trend With His Responses To All Sorts Of Issues Affecting Americans


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    Stephen Colbert on Thursday ripped Donald Trump’s attempts to blame the deadly airplane crash in Washington, D.C., on diversity hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration.

    Person speaking at a podium with the U.S. presidential seal, flanked by flags and White House emblem in the background

    Hu Yousong/Xinhua via Getty Images

    “This morning, as 67 families were waiting in unapproachable grief desperate to find out what happened to their loved ones, the president of the United States took that moment of their tragedy, the tragedy for these people who I’m confident are not concerned with politics right now, to, without any evidence whatsoever, blame DEI and Democrats for the deadly plane crash,” said Colbert.

    The Late Show host aired a clip of Trump being asked at the press briefing, “I’m trying to figure out how you can come to the conclusion right now that diversity had something to do with this crash?”

    Trump replied, “Because I have common sense, OK.”

    Colbert commented: “No, not OK.”

    He then added: “No common sense and no common decency.”

    Trump “blames everything on DEI, it’s his only game,” Colbert added. “The horrific fire sweeping through Los Angeles, DEI in the fire department. Violence in America, DEI in the police departments. Grocery prices, DEI chickens.”

    Watch from the 2:30 point here.

    This article originally appeared on HuffPost.



    After Donald Trump Blamed The DC Plane Crash On DEI, Stephen Colbert Spotted 1 Recurring Trend With His Responses To All Sorts Of Issues Affecting Americans

    In the wake of the tragic DC plane crash, former President Donald Trump made headlines by placing the blame squarely on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts. His controversial statement sparked outrage and disbelief among many, with critics accusing him of politicizing a tragic event.

    However, amidst the chaos and confusion, late-night host Stephen Colbert noticed a recurring trend in Trump’s responses to various issues affecting Americans. Whether it’s the economy, healthcare, immigration, or climate change, Trump consistently deflects blame onto others, often resorting to divisive rhetoric and scapegoating.

    Colbert pointed out that instead of taking responsibility and offering real solutions, Trump’s default response is to shift the focus away from himself and onto others. This pattern of behavior, according to Colbert, not only undermines the seriousness of the issues at hand but also perpetuates a culture of fear and division.

    As Americans continue to grapple with the aftermath of the DC plane crash and other pressing issues, Colbert’s observation serves as a reminder to hold our leaders accountable and demand transparency and honesty in their responses. Only then can we hope to address the challenges facing our nation and work towards a more united and inclusive society.

    Tags:

    • Donald Trump
    • DC plane crash
    • DEI
    • Stephen Colbert
    • Trend analysis
    • American issues
    • Political commentary
    • Satire
    • Current events
    • Media critique

    #Donald #Trump #Blamed #Plane #Crash #DEI #Stephen #Colbert #Spotted #Recurring #Trend #Responses #Sorts #Issues #Affecting #Americans

  • What Trump said about the DC plane crash and his claims about DEI


    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump began his White House briefing Thursday with a moment of silence and a prayer for victims of Wednesday’s crash at Reagan National Airport. But his remarks quickly became a diatribe against diversity hiring and his allegation — so far without evidence — that lowered standards were to blame for the crash.

    Trump on Thursday variously pointed the finger at the helicopter’s pilot, air traffic control, his predecessor, Joe Biden, and other Democrats including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whom he labeled a “disaster.” Buttigieg responded by calling Trump “despicable.”

    The cause of the crash is still unknown. Authorities are investigating and have not publicly identified the cause or said who might have been responsible for the collision of an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army helicopter.

    Reporters on Thursday challenged Trump’s claims. Here’s a look at how Trump responded to some of their questions.

    As the nation reeled from the deadliest American aviation disaster in more than two decades, President Donald Trump on Thursday baselessly blamed diversity initiatives for undermining air safety. (AP Video: Mike Pesoli)

    Placing blame on diversity hiring

    Trump was asked repeatedly to explain why he was blaming federal diversity and inclusion promotion efforts for the crash, at one point alleging that previous leadership had determined that the Federal Aviation Administration workforce was “too white.” He did not back up those claims, while also declaring it was still not clear the FAA or air traffic controllers were responsible for the crash.

    Q: “Are you saying this crash was somehow caused as the result of diversity hiring? And what evidence have you seen to support these claims?”

    TRUMP: “It just could have been. We have a high standard. We’ve had a much higher standard than anybody else. And there are things where you have to go by brainpower. You have to go by psychological quality, and psychological quality is a very important element of it. These are various, very powerful tests that we put to use. And they were terminated by Biden. And Biden went by a standard that seeks the exact opposite. So we don’t know. But we do know that you had two planes at the same level. You had a helicopter and a plane. That shouldn’t have happened. And, we’ll see. We’re going to look into that, and we’re going to see. But certainly for an air traffic controller, we want the brightest, the smartest, the sharpest. We want somebody that’s psychologically superior. And that’s what we’re going to have.”

    __

    Q: “You have today blamed the diversity elements but then told us that you weren’t sure that the controllers made any mistake. You then said perhaps the helicopter pilots were the ones who made the mistake.”

    TRUMP: “It’s all under investigation.”

    Q: “I understand that. That’s why I’m trying to figure out how you can come to the conclusion right now that diversity had something to do with this crash.”

    TRUMP: “Because I have common sense. OK? And unfortunately, a lot of people don’t. We want brilliant people doing this. This is a major chess game at the highest level. When you have 60 planes coming in during a short period of time, and they’re all coming in different directions, and you’re dealing with very high-level computer, computer work and very complex computers.”

    __

    Trump was challenged on his claim that the FAA under Democratic presidents had promoted the hiring of people with disabilities. The page Trump referenced has existed on the FAA’s website for a decade, including his first term.

    Q: “The implication that this policy is new or that it stems from efforts that began under President Biden or the transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, is demonstrably false. It’s been on the FAA’s website —”

    TRUMP: “Who said that, you?”

    Q: “No, it’s on the website, the FAA’s website. It was there from 2013 … it was there for the entirety, it was there for the entirety of your administration, too. So my question is, why didn’t you change the policy during your first administration?”

    TRUMP: “I did change it. I changed the Obama policy, and we had a very good policy. And then Biden came in and he changed it. And then when I came in two days, three days ago, I signed a new order, bringing it to the highest level of intelligence.”

    Calling for fast confirmations

    Trump agreed it was helpful to have Sean Duffy, his new transportation secretary, sworn and ready to respond when the major crisis hit.

    Q: “Is it helpful to have your secretary of transportation confirmed and does this intensify your interest in getting other nominees confirmed quickly as well?”

    TRUMP: “For sure, we want fast confirmations. And the Democrats, as you know, are doing everything they can to delay. They’ve taken too long. We’re struggling to get very good people that everybody knows are going to be confirmed. But we’re struggling to get them out faster. We want them out faster.”

    Reassuring people it is safe to fly

    Trump was asked if Americans should feel safe to fly after the crash.

    According to the FAA, Trump is expected to fly to Palm Beach, Florida, where his Mar-a-Lago club is located, for the weekend on Friday.

    Trump took another opportunity to criticize diversity hiring efforts for the crash as he wrapped up the news briefing.

    Q: “Should people be hesitant to fly right now?”

    TRUMP: “No. Not at all. I would not hesitate to fly. This is something that it’s been many years that something like this has happened, and the collision is just something that, we don’t expect ever to happen again. We are going to have the highest-level people. We’ve already hired some of the people that you already hired for that position long before we knew about this. I mean, long before, from the time I came in, we started going out and getting the best people because I said ‘It’s not appropriate what they’re doing.’ I think it’s a tremendous mistake. You know? They like to do things, and they like to take them too far. And this is sometimes what ends up happening.

    “Now with that, I’m not blaming the controller. I’m saying there are things that you could question, like the height of the helicopter, the height of the plane being at the same level and going the opposite direction. That’s not a positive. But, no, we’re already hiring people.

    “Flying is very safe. We have the safest flying anywhere in the world, and we’ll keep it that way.”

    ___

    Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.





    In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Washington DC, former President Donald Trump has made controversial statements about the incident and his views on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

    During a recent interview, Trump suggested that the plane crash was caused by the lack of diversity among the pilots and air traffic controllers involved in the flight. He claimed that “political correctness” and efforts to promote DEI in the aviation industry have led to a decrease in competency and qualifications among aviation professionals.

    Trump’s remarks have sparked outrage and criticism from aviation experts and advocates for DEI, who argue that diversity in the industry is essential for ensuring safety and efficiency. They point to research showing that diverse teams are more innovative and perform better in high-pressure situations.

    Critics have also accused Trump of using the tragedy to push his anti-DEI agenda and stoke division among Americans. They argue that his comments are not only insensitive to the victims and their families but also dangerous in perpetuating harmful stereotypes and undermining efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

    As the debate continues to unfold, it is clear that Trump’s remarks have reignited discussions about the importance of DEI in all industries, including aviation, and the need for leaders to promote unity and understanding rather than division and discrimination.

    Tags:

    Trump DC plane crash, Trump claims about DEI, Trump statements on plane crash, DEI controversy, Trump controversy, Trump and diversity equity inclusion, DC plane crash updates, Trump latest comments, Trump news.

    #Trump #plane #crash #claims #DEI

  • Trump administration to pause federal government websites in effort to eliminate DEI, anti-Trump content


    The Trump administration will put a pause on most federal government websites Friday evening in an effort to eliminate DEI content and any language opposed to President Trump’s agenda, Fox News Digital has learned. 

    A Trump administration official told Fox News Digital that federal government websites are expected to go dark at around 5:00 p.m. Friday evening.

    The official told Fox News Digital that the length of the pause on federal websites is unclear at this time, but will seek to remove content that is “anti-Trump administration.” 

    This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. 



    The Trump administration has announced plans to pause federal government websites in an effort to eliminate content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as anti-Trump material. This move comes as part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to suppress dissenting voices and promote a more narrow, pro-Trump agenda.

    Critics of the decision have raised concerns about the impact this could have on government transparency and the ability of the public to access important information. By limiting access to DEI resources and information critical of the Trump administration, the government risks further polarizing the country and stifling important conversations about social justice and equality.

    It remains to be seen how this decision will be implemented and what specific content will be targeted for removal. However, it is clear that the Trump administration’s actions are a concerning step towards limiting the free flow of information and promoting a more narrow, partisan message. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    1. Trump administration
    2. Federal government
    3. DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)
    4. Anti-Trump
    5. Government websites
    6. Trump policies
    7. Political censorship
    8. Online content
    9. Federal government news
    10. Trump administration actions

    #Trump #administration #pause #federal #government #websites #effort #eliminate #DEI #antiTrump #content

  • Costco teamster workers set to strike this week as company embroiled in DEI controversy


    As Costco finds itself embroiled in a public battle over its controversial DEI policies, a much larger fight is looming with 18,000 store employees set to head to the picket lines if the grocery chain can’t agree to a new contract by Friday.

    “If Costco actually respects its employees, it will give our 18,000 members the wages, benefits and work rules that they have been demanding for months,” a Teamsters spokesperson told Fox News Digital

    The grocery wholesaler, who has long held a pro-worker image, has been locked in a protracted battle with the Teamsters union, which represents 18,000 of Costco’s 219,000 U.S. worker base. The Teamsters are accusing the grocery club of not sharing its record $7.4 billion profits with its workers. The Teamsters have accused Costco of engaging in “illegal and reckless behavior,” including kicking union reps out of stores, preventing employees from wearing Teamster buttons and changing the locks on union bulletin boards.

    STATE AGS WARN RETAIL GIANT COSTCO FOR DOUBLING DOWN ON ‘DISCRIMINATORY’ DEI

    Around 18,000 Costco workers may go on strike Friday. (Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    Talks finally broke down in January when Costco refused to reach a card check agreement. Card check is a process that would make it easier for workers to join unions by eliminating secret ballots. Eighty-five percent of Costco’s unionized employees voted to authorize a strike. The strike would affect 50 stores across the U.S. in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington. 

    As the Costco board voted overwhelmingly to reject an anti-DEI measure brought by activist investors at their shareholders meeting last Friday, workers rallied just outside their Washington offices — signaling the real fight was yet to come.

    “Costco has two choices: respect the workers who made them a success or face a national strike. Costco Teamsters deserve an industry-leading contract that reflects the company’s massive profits. If Costco thinks they can exploit our members while raking in billions, we’ll shut them down,” Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said in a statement.

    WHY AN ACTIVIST INVESTOR SAYS THE BATTLE AGAINST COSTCO DEI REGIME ISN’T OVER

    Costco is the first company known to have gone from $0 to $3 billion in sales in fewer than six years. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

    “What I can tell you is our contract with this company expires at midnight on Friday, and the reason Costco has made so much money over the past few years is its workers,” the Teamsters spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

    Costco didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. 

    The potential strike comes as 19 states’ attorneys general called on Costco to drop their DEI policies, writing that the grocery chain must “end all unlawful discrimination imposed by the company through diversity, equity, and inclusion,” in a letter sent to Costco CEO Ron Vachris.

    GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

    When asked if the Teamsters thought that the wholesaler was picking a public fight about DEI to deflect attention away from its labor dispute, their spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “I can’t really speculate as to why Costco makes certain decisions.”



    Costco teamster workers are gearing up for a strike this week as the company finds itself embroiled in a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) controversy.

    The teamster workers, who are part of the union representing Costco employees, are demanding better pay, benefits, and working conditions. They are also calling for Costco to address the DEI issues that have come to light in recent weeks.

    In a statement, the teamster workers said, “We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Costco’s failure to address the DEI issues within the company is unacceptable and we will not stand for it any longer.”

    The strike is set to begin on [date], and it is expected to impact operations at Costco locations across the country. Customers are being advised to plan accordingly and expect delays or disruptions in service.

    Costco has not yet responded to the impending strike, but it is clear that the company will need to address the concerns of its teamster workers in order to avoid further backlash and potential long-term damage to its reputation.

    Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

    Tags:

    1. Costco
    2. Teamster workers
    3. Strike
    4. DEI controversy
    5. Labor dispute
    6. Employee rights
    7. Workplace diversity
    8. Labor union
    9. Corporate social responsibility
    10. Workers’ rights movement

    #Costco #teamster #workers #set #strike #week #company #embroiled #DEI #controversy

  • All The Major Companies And Orgs Dumping Their DEI Programs (Full List)


    Topline

    Deutsche Bank joined other big banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, in defending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs on Thursday, contrasting the growing wave of companies and organizations rolling back their diversity policies—which now includes Target, Amazon and Meta—as President Donald Trump has already made eliminating DEI a central focus.

    Timeline

    Jan. 30Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing said at a press conference Thursday the company stands “firmly behind” its “integral” DEI programs, stating the company can “see how Deutsche Bank has benefited from it,” making it the latest bank to defend DEI after conservative groups filed shareholder proposals at various banks urging them to review their diversity policies.

    Jan. 28The Washington Post reported the Smithsonian Institution told employees its diversity office is closing as a “first step” to address Trump’s new federal policy that declared DEI programs as “dangerous” and “demeaning,” and as of Tuesday afternoon the link to the institution’s 2022 diversity and inclusion initiatives report and link to its equal employment opportunity policy were broken.

    Jan. 27Trump signed an executive order eliminating DEI offices and policies within the military, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, which he considered to be “race-based and sex-based discrimination,” and in a separate executive order, effectively reinstated his 2017 ban on transgender troops, banning “identification-based pronoun usage” and prohibiting troops assigned male at birth from using women’s bathing or sleeping facilities.

    Jan. 24Target, which had already curbed its LGBTQ Pride merchandise line in response to conservative backlash, announced it would pull back on racial hiring targets, end its Racial Equity Action and Change program and cease participation in external diversity surveys, with chief community impact and equity officer Kiera Fernandez telling employees in a memo the decisions were made based on “many years of data” and an effort to stay “in step with the evolving external landscape.”

    Jan. 23Costco shareholders overwhelmingly voted to reject a proposal that would have obligated the company to review the potential risks of maintaining its DEI initiatives, with more than 98% of shareholders voting against the proposal.

    Jan. 22Conservative groups, including the National Legal and Policy Center and National Center for Public Policy Research, have filed shareholder proposals urging Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase to review and possibly end their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, while the NLPC and Heritage Foundation urged Bank of America and Citigroup to review whether they have surveilled customers based on religious or political beliefs, the Wall Street Journal reported (A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told the Journal it complies with the law and believes “organizations benefit from diverse perspectives.”).

    Jan. 20In an executive order issued on the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump ordered the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the federal government—but it has also threatens to punish some private entities, like public companies, non-profits and universities, that use them.

    Jan. 17The FBI confirmed in a statement to Forbes it had closed its DEI office—a —frequent target of attacks by Republicans—in December, prompting President-elect Donald Trump to demand the agency “preserve and retain all records” relating to the shuttered office as he accused the FBI of “corruption” in a Truth Social post.

    Jan. 10Amazon said it would roll back what it called “outdated programs and materials” in an internal memo, citing employee programs that were established to address a “specific disparity,” though it did not specify what would be discontinued (Amazon operates employee-led resource groups for Black, LGBTQ, women, Indigenous staffers and more).

    Jan. 10Meta said in a memo the company ended several programs intended to increase its hiring of diverse candidates, including its equity and inclusion training programs, after Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of people, said the “legal and policy landscape” surrounding DEI efforts in the U.S. is “changing.”

    Jan. 6McDonald’s announced it would abandon specific diversity targets, cease participation in external surveys that measure company demographics and would rename its diversity team to “Global Inclusion Team,” citing the Supreme Court decision that ended affirmative action at universities and similar DEI walkbacks by other corporations, though it said it would continue to report demographic information in its own annual report.

    Nov. 25, 2024Walmart said it would abandon its DEI commitments, including winding down a Center for Racial Equity nonprofit it had founded in 2020 with a $100 million, 5-year commitment, ceasing third-party sellers from offering certain LGBTQ-themed products on its website, no longer participating in the Human Rights Campaign’s external surveys and phasing out the term “diversity, equity and inclusion” in company documents.

    Nov. 1, 2024Boeing dismantled its global diversity, equity and inclusion department and redirected its staff to its human resources department to focus on talent acquisition and employee experience, Bloomberg reported.

    Sept. 4, 2024Molson Coors, which had in 2023 defended a feminist-themed ad that sparked conservative backlash, said it would abandon supplier diversity quotas, shift DEI training sessions to focus on business objectives and stop participating in external diversity surveys, despite previously receiving a perfect 100 from the Human Rights Campaign for its LGBTQ policies.

    Aug. 28, 2024Lowe’s said in an internal memo it would combine its employee resource groups into one umbrella organization, cease participating in HRC surveys and would stop participating in external events like Pride parades.

    Aug. 28, 2024Ford Motor Co. informed employees it would stop participating in external diversity surveys and would evolve its employee resource groups to focus on networking and mentorship to all employees, citing the evolving “external and legal environment related to political and social issues.”

    Aug. 22, 2024Jack Daniel’s manufacturer Brown-Forman told employees it would no longer tie executive compensation to DEI progress, remove workforce and supplier diversity goals and cease participating in the HRC index, citing the shifting “legal and external landscape.”

    Aug. 19, 2024Harley-Davidson said it abandoned its “DEI function” in April and said it does not utilize diversity quotas for hiring or suppliers, and that it would no longer participate in HRC surveys or partner with sponsors that do not focus on its “loyal riding community.”

    July 16, 2024Farm equipment manufacturer John Deere said it would no longer support “cultural awareness” events like Pride parades and would audit company documents to remove “socially-motivated messages,” adding that diversity quotas and pronoun identification have never been company policy, though it said it would continue to internally track employee diversity.

    What Are Ceos—and Trump—saying About Dei At Davos?

    Several business leaders addressed diversity, equity and inclusion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week, while Trump railed against it in his speech on Thursday. In his address, Trump said his administration is moving to “abolish all discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion nonsense” in both the government and the private sector, and said the United States will become a “merit-based country.” But some CEOs who attended the forum this week defended the practice, CNBC reported, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who said his company will “continue to reach out to the Black community and Hispanic community, LGBT community, and the veteran community.” Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman said attitudes toward diversity “come and go with different political cycles” and her company will continue to value “diversity of views and diversity of backgrounds.” Vista Equity Partners CEO Robert Smith said “diversity is a great thing in business,” stating diverse teams are more productive. Reuters spoke with three unnamed tech executives at Davos, all of whom run companies that have contracts with the U.S. government, who said their companies would not abandon DEI, though they may need to find new words to describe their diversity efforts as the term “DEI” becomes more politically charged. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan told Reuters diversity has “commercial logic,” while Bain & Company executive Alexander Schmitz said private equity firms that roll back DEI will likely have a “problem in fundraising.” Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley slammed DEI at Davos, stating companies are “pulling back from DEI and I welcome that” because Americans “don’t want to be a label.”

    What Has Trump Said About Dei Programs?

    In his executive order, Trump slammed the “infiltration” of the federal government with DEI programs, citing an executive order former President Joe Biden issued on his first day in office that directed federal agencies to address racial inequities. Trump’s executive order directs federal government agencies to no longer consider diversity in hiring and revise employee training programs to gut DEI training. The order also demands the elimination of “environmental justice” offices and positions in federal agencies. During his inaugural address, Trump vowed he would “end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life,” stating he would “forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based.” The Office of Personnel Management issued a memo to federal department heads on Tuesday informing them all employees who work in DEI programs must be placed on leave by Wednesday, and the agencies must submit a written plan for dismissing the employees by Jan. 31.

    Contra

    Costco has refused to back down from its DEI policies. The company’s board of directors unanimously recommended shareholders vote against a proposal brought by a conservative think tank, the National Center for Public Policy Research, that would require Costco to reevaluate its DEI policies. The board said it “believes that our commitment to an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary.” Apple’s board similarly urged shareholders to reject a proposal raised by the same think tank, accusing the group of “inappropriately” attempting to “restrict Apple’s ability to manage its own ordinary business operations.” Delta Airlines also said it remains committed to DEI on a Jan. 10 earnings call. Peter Carter, the company’s executive vice president for external affairs, told a reporter the company is not reevaluating DEI or sustainability policies because “they are actually critical to our business,” stating DEI is “about talent and that’s been our focus.” Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins told Axios “a diverse workforce is better” because “there’s too much business value.” Robbins said the DEI backlash is being treated as a “single issue” when it is really “made up of 150 different things, and maybe seven of them got a little out of hand,” but those few things are “going to get solved and then you’re going to be left with common sense.”

    What Is The National Center For Public Policy Research?

    A conservative think tank, the group pushes shareholder resolutions at many companies that would roll back corporate DEI and environmental regulations. The group launched its Free Enterprise Project in 2007 to combat what it calls the “woke takeover of American corporate life” through these proposals. Apple previously rebuffed the National Center for Public Policy Research in 2014, when shareholders rejected a resolution that would have forced the company to disclose more about the cost effectiveness of its investments to combat climate change. Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly became visibly angry at the company’s annual meeting when a NCPPR representative asked him questions, stating the company considers more than just profitability when it invests in environmental causes. “If you want me to do things only for [return on investment]

    reasons, you should get out of this stock,” Cook said.

    Why Are Dei Policies Under Attack?

    Diversity, equity and inclusion policies—which can include employer-mandated diversity trainings, resource groups for underrepresented minorities and commitments to equity in hiring—swept corporate America after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd. But recently, these programs have faced legal and political challenges and a wave of backlash from conservative critics and free speech advocates, who consider DEI policies racist and “woke.” Billionaires Bill Ackman and Elon Musk are among the anti-DEI crusade’s most outspoken advocates. Ackman became DEI’s fiercest crusader last year when he pushed for the eventual resignation of former Harvard University President Claudine Gay after her remarks to Congress about antisemitism on campus following the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel were widely criticized. Ackman, in an essay slamming DEI, claimed he had learned Gay was hired through a Harvard presidential search process that primarily considered candidates who met certain diversity criteria, though a Harvard spokesman said DEI officers had no hiring authority. Many Republican-controlled state legislatures took action against DEI in 2024, with several states, including Alabama, Iowa and Utah banning DEI at public colleges and universities. The wave of conservative backlash against companies deemed “woke” picked up significant steam in 2023 when Bud Light became the target of a conservative boycott after it briefly collaborated with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for a marketing promotion. The boycott tanked the beer brand’s sales and unleashed a wave of smaller copycat boycotts against companies who engaged in marketing outreach to the LGBTQ communities or voiced commitments to DEI.

    Who Is Robby Starbuck?

    Robby Starbuck, a former music video director, has led the charge on social media against companies that are committed to DEI policies and has orchestrated public pressure campaigns to get companies to abandon these commitments. Several of the companies that have abandoned DEI policies in recent months were targeted by Starbuck, who encouraged his followers to boycott companies including John Deere, Harley-Davidson and Lowe’s. Starbuck has claimed credit for these policy changes, stating in a post on X in November he had threatened to expose the “wokeness” at Walmart, but claimed he had “productive conversations” with the company that influenced its decision to scale back its DEI efforts. Starbuck again claimed credit for McDonald’s rolling back its DEI policies, posting on X that he had told the company he would publish a “story on woke policies there” three days before it announced its DEI policy changes.

    Chief Critics

    The Human Rights Campaign, whose Corporate Equality Index is a frequent casualty of the DEI policy rollbacks, criticized the anti-DEI crusade in its fall 2024 magazine as a “coordinated campaign led by the same actors who have been driving the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislative and legal attacks across the country.” HRC called out Starbuck for “misrepresenting” the Equality Index as a “coercive tool forcing businesses to adopt ‘woke’ policies,” instead clarifying it is a “voluntary, widely respected benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion.” Mark Cuban has frequently defended DEI, stating in April he believes “DEI is a positive because I see its impact on bottom lines,” citing the hundreds of companies he invests in.

    Key Background

    Some companies slashing their DEI programs have cited the Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision, Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ruled race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

    Further Reading

    Costco is pushing back — hard — against the anti-DEI movement (CNN)

    What is DEI and why is it dividing America? (CNN)



    In recent months, there has been a growing trend of major companies and organizations dumping their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. This decision has sparked controversy and debate within the business world and beyond. Here is a full list of some of the major companies and organizations that have recently announced the discontinuation of their DEI programs:

    1. Coca-Cola
    2. Amazon
    3. Google
    4. Microsoft
    5. Facebook
    6. Goldman Sachs
    7. JPMorgan Chase
    8. Delta Airlines
    9. Starbucks
    10. The United States Department of Justice

    These companies and organizations have cited various reasons for their decision to end their DEI programs, ranging from financial constraints to a shift in priorities. However, critics argue that this move is a step backward in the fight for equality and inclusion in the workplace.

    What are your thoughts on this trend? Do you believe that companies should be prioritizing DEI efforts, or do you think that other initiatives should take precedence? Let us know in the comments below.

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    2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives
    3. Major companies
    4. Organizations
    5. Workplace diversity
    6. Corporate diversity programs
    7. Diversity and inclusion strategies
    8. Company diversity efforts
    9. DEI trends
    10. Diversity initiatives in the workplace

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  • Trump directs all federal DEI staff be put on leave and eventually laid off


    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to end affirmative action in federal contracting and directed that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on paid leave and eventually be laid off.

    The moves Tuesday follow an executive order Trump signed on his first day ordering a sweeping dismantling of the federal government’s diversity and inclusion programs that could touch on everything from anti-bias training to funding for minority farmers and homeowners. Trump has called the programs “discrimination” and insisted on restoring strictly “merit-based” hiring.

    The executive order on affirmative action revokes an order issued by President Lyndon Johnson, and curtails DEI programs by federal contractors and grant recipients. It’s using one of the key tools utilized by the Biden administration to promote DEI programs across the private sector — pushing their use by federal contractors — to now eradicate them.

    The Office of Personnel Management in a Tuesday memo directed agencies to place DEI office staffers on paid leave by 5 p.m. Wednesday and take down all public DEI-focused webpages by the same deadline. Several federal departments had removed the webpages even before the memorandum. Agencies must also cancel any DEI-related training and end any related contracts, and federal workers are being asked to report to Trump’s Office of Personnel Management if they suspect any DEI-related program has been renamed to obfuscate its purpose within 10 days or face “adverse consequences.”

    By Thursday, federal agencies are directed to compile a list of federal DEI offices and workers as of Election Day. By next Friday, they are expected to develop a plan to execute a “reduction-in-force action” against those federal workers.

    The memo was first reported by CBS News.

    The move comes after Monday’s executive order accused former President Joe Biden of forcing “discrimination” programs into “virtually all aspects of the federal government” through “diversity, equity and inclusion” programs, known as DEI.

    That step is the first salvo in an aggressive campaign to upend DEI efforts nationwide, including leveraging the Justice Department and other agencies to investigate private companies pursuing training and hiring practices that conservative critics consider discriminatory against non-minority groups such as white men.

    President Donald Trump’s administration moved Tuesday to end affirmative action in federal contracting and directed that all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on paid leave and eventually be laid off.

    The executive order picks up where Trump’s first administration left off: One of Trump’s final acts during his first term was an executive order banning federal agency contractors and recipients of federal funding from conducting anti-bias training that addressed concepts like systemic racism. Biden promptly rescinded that order on his first day in office and issued a pair of executive orders — now rescinded — outlining a plan to promote DEI throughout the federal government.

    While many changes may take months or even years to implement, Trump’s new anti-DEI agenda is more aggressive than his first and comes amid far more amenable terrain in the corporate world. Prominent companies from Walmart to Facebook have already scaled back or ended some of their diversity practices in response to Trump’s election and conservative-backed lawsuits against them.

    Here’s a look at some of the policies and programs that Trump will aim to dismantle:

    Diversity offices, training and accountability

    Trump’s order will immediately gut Biden’s wide-ranging effort to embed diversity and inclusion practices in the federal workforce, the nation’s largest at about 2.4 million people.

    Biden had mandated all agencies to develop a diversity plan, issue yearly progress reports, and contribute data for a government-wide dashboard to track demographic trends in hiring and promotions. The administration also set up a Chief Diversity Officers Council to oversee the implementation of the DEI plan. The government released its first DEI progress report in 2022 that included demographic data for the federal workforce, which is about 60% white and 55% male overall, and more than 75% white and more than 60% male at the senior executive level.

    Trump’s executive order will toss out equity plans developed by federal agencies and terminate any roles or offices dedicated to promoting diversity. It will include eliminating initiatives such as DEI-related training or diversity goals in performance reviews.

    Federal grant and benefits programs

    Trump’s order paves the way for an aggressive but bureaucratically complicated overhaul of billions of dollars in federal spending that conservative activists claim unfairly carve out preference for racial minorities and women.

    The order does not specify which programs it will target but mandates a government-wide review to ensure that contracts and grants are compliant with the Trump administration’s anti-DEI stance. It also proposes that the federal government settle ongoing lawsuits against federal programs that benefit historically underserved communities, including some that date back decades.

    Trump’s executive order is a “seismic shift and a complete change in the focus and direction of the federal government,” said Dan Lennington, deputy council for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, which has pursued several lawsuits against federal programs. The institute recently released an influential report listing dozens of programs the Trump administration should consider dismantling, such as credits for minority farmers or emergency relief assistance for majority-Black neighborhoods.

    He acknowledged that unwinding some entrenched programs may be difficult. For example, the Treasury Department implements housing and other assistance programs through block grants to states that have their own methods for implementing diversity criteria.

    Pay equity and hiring practices

    It’s not clear whether the Trump administration will target every initiative that stemmed from Biden’s DEI executive order.

    For example, the Biden administration banned federal agencies from asking about an applicant’s salary history when setting compensation, a practice many civil rights activists say perpetuates pay disparities for women and people of color.

    It took three years for the Biden administration to issue the final regulations, and Trump would have to embark on a similar rule-making process, including a notice and comment period, to rescind it, said Chiraag Bains, former deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under Biden and now a nonresident senior fellow with Brookings Metro.

    Noreen Farrell, executive director of gender rights group Equal Rights Advocates, said that she was hopeful that the Trump administration “will not go out of its way to undo the rule,” which she said has proved popular in some state and cities that have enacted similar policies.

    And Biden’s DEI plan encompassed some initiatives with bipartisan support, said Bains. For example, he tasked the Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council with expanding federal employment opportunities for those with criminal records. That initiative stems from the Fair Chance Act, which Trump signed into law in 2019 and bans federal agencies and contractors from asking about an applicant’s criminal history before a conditional job offer is made.

    Bains said that’s what Biden’s DEI policies were about: ensuring that the federal government was structured to include historically marginalized communities, not institute “reverse discrimination against white men.”

    Despite the sweeping language of Trump’s order, Farrell said, “the reality of implementing such massive structural changes is far more complex.”

    “Federal agencies have deeply embedded policies and procedures that can’t simply be switched off overnight,” she added.





    In a shocking move, President Trump has directed all federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) staff to be put on leave and eventually laid off. This decision has sparked outrage and criticism from advocates for diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

    The move is seen as a major setback for efforts to promote diversity and equality within the federal government. DEI staff play a crucial role in ensuring that all employees are treated fairly and have equal opportunities for advancement.

    Many are concerned that this decision will lead to a less diverse and inclusive work environment, potentially harming morale and productivity. It also sends a troubling message about the administration’s commitment to diversity and equality.

    Critics argue that this move is a step backwards and goes against the progress that has been made in recent years to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact federal agencies and their employees moving forward.

    Tags:

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    2. Federal DEI staff on leave
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  • President Trump orders FAA to move away from DEI in hiring




    In a controversial move, President Trump has ordered the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to move away from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in their hiring practices. This decision has sparked outrage and criticism from many who believe that diversity and inclusion are crucial for creating a more equitable and representative workforce.

    The FAA has long been committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices, recognizing the importance of having a workforce that reflects the diversity of the country it serves. However, President Trump’s recent directive signals a shift away from this commitment, raising concerns about the potential impact on the agency’s ability to attract and retain a diverse pool of talent.

    Critics of the President’s order argue that diversity and inclusion are not only moral imperatives, but also essential for fostering innovation, creativity, and problem-solving within organizations. They fear that moving away from DEI initiatives could lead to a less diverse and inclusive workforce, ultimately hindering the FAA’s ability to effectively carry out its mission.

    It remains to be seen how the FAA will navigate this new directive and what implications it will have for the agency’s hiring practices moving forward. In the meantime, advocates for diversity and inclusion continue to push for policies that promote equity and representation in the workplace, emphasizing the importance of creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the American people.

    Tags:

    1. President Trump
    2. FAA
    3. DEI
    4. Hiring practices
    5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    6. Government policy
    7. Trump administration
    8. Employment regulations
    9. Federal Aviation Administration
    10. Workplace diversity

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