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AT&T, the nation’s third-largest wireless carrier, is the latest corporation to announce a scaling back of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, making significant changes to its policies, partnerships, and internal structure.
Among the notable changes, Michelle Jordan, formerly AT&T’s chief diversity officer, now holds the title of vice president of culture and inclusion, according to her LinkedIn profile. Employees in Jordan’s department have also been reassigned under a newly named team, a source familiar with AT&T’s operations confirmed.
Beyond internal restructuring, AT&T has withdrawn financial support from the Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth, and has discontinued its backing of Turn Up the Love, a Pride-themed music event. The company has also stopped providing pronoun pins to employees, removing them from company stores.
Shift in corporate commitments
The Dallas-based telecommunications giant has also ended its participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking tool that measures workplace inclusivity for LGBTQ+ employees. An internal memo obtained by Bloomberg indicates that AT&T has halted DEI-focused training, replacing it with leadership development programs.
In another shift, the company will no longer award contracts based on DEI criteria. Instead, procurement decisions will focus on value, quality, and function. AT&T has stated, however, that it will expand contracts with small and local businesses. Similarly, its scholarship programs, previously targeted toward minority groups such as Hispanic students, will now be open to all applicants regardless of background.
Political and regulatory landscape
The changes come amid growing political and regulatory pressure on corporate DEI initiatives. An executive order signed by former President Donald Trump sought to restrict the use of diversity-focused programs in federal agencies, and he has indicated interest in extending similar measures to private companies.
Additionally, more than two dozen corporations have reportedly altered their DEI strategies in response to potential legal action. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr has sent letters to major telecom providers, including Verizon and Comcast, urging them to dismantle their DEI programs. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates wireless companies like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, is closely monitoring corporate compliance with federal guidelines on diversity policies.
As the national conversation around DEI continues to evolve, AT&T’s recalibrated approach reflects a broader corporate response to shifting political and regulatory pressures. Even changing the form of words around diversity, as a form of compromise, does not signal that a company is open to everyone.
