Home improvement retailer Lowe's has ended some of its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, becoming the latest U.S. company to amend such policies aimed at boosting racial and ethnic representation.
An internal memo obtained by Reuters on Monday showed that Lowe's will no longer participate in surveys for the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group that supports transgender rights, and is also merging its various business resource groups, which represent diverse employees, into one umbrella organization.
The company will not sponsor or participate in community events such as parades, festivals or fairs, and may make additional changes to the policies over time, according to the memo, which a company spokesperson confirmed.
Over the past few years, companies including JPMorgan Chase have faced massive conservative backlash against diversity initiatives, which multiplied in 2020 after widespread protests following the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans.
The protests highlighted racial and gender inequities in corporate leadership.
Some companies have received public shareholder letters since 2021 claiming their DEI programs amount to illegal discrimination and violate directors’ duties to investors.
Groups opposing diversity policies have also been energized by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2023 that struck down affirmative action in university admissions decisions.
The memo noted that Lowe’s began reviewing its diversity and inclusion programs around the same time.