DEI Is Dead: Long Live an Open-Minded Culture

Inclusion without division – rethinking diversity in a polarized workplace

Juan Moyano (Spain)/Stocksy

Like it or not, DEI is dead – not because diversity, equity, and inclusion don’t matter (they do), but because the term itself has become a minefield. Once a corporate rallying cry for fairer workplaces, DEI has been stretched, misused, and weaponized. What started as a symbol of unity is now divisive, with some even using it as an insult.

The backlash against DEI is undeniable. Since late 2024, big companies like McDonald’s, Target, Amazon, and Meta have quietly dismantled or scaled back their DEI programs. Government agencies have been ordered to erase references to diversity, equity, and inclusion from government websites and policies – sometimes in absurd ways, like banning hundreds of words or removing heroes from history.

The chilling effect is real. Corporate America is navigating uncertainty, caught between legal scrutiny, public opinion, and its commitment to fairness and inclusion.

Some companies are retreating entirely, using the backlash as an excus…