Google is ending its goal to hire more employees from underrepresented groups. The company is also reviewing some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Many U.S. businesses are making similar changes.
In 2020, Google aimed to improve diversity by hiring more employees from different backgrounds. It also planned to grow offices outside California and New York. However, Chief People Officer Fiona Cicconi told employees in an email that these goals will no longer continue.
After the 2020 protests against the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans, Google strongly supported diversity initiatives. CEO Sundar Pichai set a goal to increase leaders from underrepresented groups by 30% by 2025. At that time, 96% of Google’s U.S. leaders were white or Asian, and 73% of global leaders were men.
In 2021, Google started evaluating executives based on team diversity and inclusion. This decision came after an AI research leader said she was fired for criticizing Google’s diversity efforts. Chief Diversity Officer Melonie Parker said in a 2024 interview that the company had reached 60% of its five-year goals.
On Wednesday, Google said it did not have new updates on Pichai’s goals. In its annual report to the U.S. SEC, the company removed a statement about making DEI part of its work. This statement had appeared in reports from 2021 to 2024. Google said it removed the line because it is reviewing its DEI programs.
Parul Koul, president of the Alphabet Workers Union, criticized the changes. She said they are part of a broader attack on worker rights in the tech industry.
Google is a federal contractor that provides cloud computing and other services to the U.S. government. The company is now reviewing policy changes from Donald Trump’s presidency that limited DEI efforts in government and among federal contractors. Cicconi said teams are making changes to follow recent court decisions and executive orders.
Despite these changes, Google will keep employee groups such as Trans at Google, Black Googler Network, and Disability Alliance. These groups help shape company policies and product decisions.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
Other tech companies are also reducing their DEI programs. In January, Meta announced it was ending its DEI hiring, training, and supplier selection programs. Amazon also said it was shutting down outdated diversity initiatives.
Conservative groups have opposed DEI programs, especially after a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling ended affirmative action in university admissions. Some groups have even threatened to sue companies that continue these programs.
