Target is reversing its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, which have been in place for a long time.

In a recent announcement, Target revealed that they will be making changes to their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The decision was made in order to better align their workforce and product offerings with their customer base, following President Donald Trump's inauguration.

According to a memo sent to employees by Kiera Fernandez, the chief community impact and equity officer at Target, the company has decided to discontinue their three-year DEI goals. This includes no longer reporting to external diversity organizations and ending a program that featured products from Black- and minority-owned businesses in their stores.

Fernandez stated in the memo, "Our strategy has been shaped by years of data, insights, listening, and learning. As a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape to drive growth and success for Target."

This announcement comes as a stark deviation from the sentiment of Target CEO Brian Cornell four years ago. After the murder of George Floyd, Cornell described DEI efforts as "personal" and pledged to strengthen the company's diversity efforts. He stated, "That could have been one of my Target team members."

However, the recent change in direction will see a scaling back of many programs that were implemented after Floyd's death. This includes a program to support Black entrepreneurs and a pledge to spend over $2 billion on Black-owned businesses. Target also contributed $10 million to social justice groups like the National Urban League and African American Leadership Forum.

The decision to scale back on DEI initiatives comes shortly after President Trump's executive orders to end government DEI programs and put federal officials who were overseeing these initiatives on leave. These orders were signed immediately after his inauguration.

Target's decision to roll back on DEI goals puts them in line with other major companies like Meta, Walmart, and McDonald's. These companies have all made similar moves to reduce their DEI efforts.

Some have criticized this decision, arguing that DEI is important and should not be overlooked. However, Target's spokesperson clarified that there are currently no plans for job cuts as a result of this announcement. Ultimately, Target's goal is to continue serving their diverse customer base and driving growth for the company.

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