DEI is under attack, but so far local companies are standing by their programs

BARATA BEY IS PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. HE TOLD THE COURIER SO FAR, LOCAL COMPANIES ARE TELLING HIM THEY’RE NOT SCALING BACK THEIR DEI PROGRAMS. (PHOTO BY ROB TAYLOR JR.) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, more commonly known as DEI, is under attack. President Donald J. Trump, not even a full day in office, signed an executive order to effectively end DEI-based programs and DEI-based employment opportunities on the federal level, even moving to have all federal DEI-related staff laid off and eventually terminated. Trump also moved to end affirmative action principles in federal contracting. DEI-focused webpages on the federal level are gone. Kapoof. And Trump ordered members of the Office of Management and Budget to look out for any federal programs that have changed their DEI-related name but still act, in principle, as an advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Major companies are caving into the pressure. Walmart, known for “rolling back” its prices, announced after Trump won the Nov. 5 Presidential Election that it would be “rolling back” its DEI practices, including not giving priority treatment to suppliers based on race or gender. “We’ve been on a journey and know we aren’t...