AT&T has announced plans to scrap its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, including training programs that defined racism as a “white characteristic.” This shift comes after pressure from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
According to a report from the New York Post, the Dallas-based telecommunications company, which employs over 110,000 people in the U.S., has decided to eliminate its DEI policies. This action follows Carr’s insistence that companies with discriminatory practices regarding race, gender, and sexual orientation would not be granted essential FCC licenses.
In a letter to Chairman Carr, AT&T’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, David McAtee, stated that the company is adjusting its employment and business practices to adhere to applicable laws. This change will see DEI-related policies eliminated both in name and practice.
AT&T’s decision follows criticism regarding a worker training program that allegedly compared racism to a “white characteristic.” A 2021 report, involving documents leaked by Christopher Rufo, suggested that training encouraged white employees to acknowledge their role as the “problem.”
As part of its focus on merit-based opportunities and equal employment, AT&T emphasized that hiring and supplier contracts will no longer be based on race, gender, or sexual orientation. They also plan to remove all DEI training from employee programs and eliminate DEI-specific positions.
However, AT&T will retain employee groups that have been in place for over 50 years, which focus on protected characteristics like women’s and Black employee networks. The company clarified that it won’t restrict employees from joining any groups based on demographic factors.
This move to eliminate DEI policies is part of a larger trend in corporate policy, with other companies also making changes to comply with FCC licensing requirements. For example, Verizon announced it would end its DEI policies as well.
“Verizon has agreed to cease its DEI initiatives, as detailed in a recent FCC filing. These immediate changes represent a positive move towards equal opportunity and anti-discrimination,” stated FCC Chairman Kerr.
In a filing with Telecom regulators, Verizon mentioned that it is modifying its HR structure to remove a dedicated DEI team, redirecting those teams to focus on HR talent goals instead.
read more of New York Post here.
Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering free speech and online censorship issues.
