A newly released internal email from the former lead of one of Microsoft’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) teams show that the tech company may be backing away from DEI as public criticism for the ideologically driven programs has grown.
[RELATED: Tractor Supply Company Ditches “Woke” After Conservative Boycott…]
“True systems change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020. Hence the purposeful and strategic 3-5 year shelf life of many company’s inclusion commitments post the murder of George Floyd are being reevaluated,” said the former DEI chief in an email acquired by Business Insider.
According to the email, the former head of one DEI team lost his job, along with his entire team, starting at the beginning of this month.
The decision reportedly came because of “changing business needs,” although it is unclear whether this decision marks the start of a widespread purge of DEI programs by Microsoft.
Despite laying off one of its DEI teams, Microsoft continues to promote the far-left program on its website and continues to host its 2023 DEI report.
The former DEI head also used his email to criticize the much-maligned Project 2025, a plan for a conservative president to install conservatives in government, blaming the project for making DEI no longer an intelligent business decision.
Microsoft is not the only company to recently scale back some of its DEI programs.
Tractor Supply, an outdoor living and hardware store, completely reversed course on its DEI programs, which supported transgender procedures for minors and drag shows, following enormous backlash from conservatives.
PR move only. They’ll still continue down this path.