Meta Ends DEI Programs Amid Legal Shifts, Zuckerberg Blames Sandberg

MENLO PARK, Calif. — Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has officially ended its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, citing a shifting legal and policy landscape. The decision, announced last week, comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly attributed the company’s previous DEI push to former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, who left the tech giant in 2022.

According to a report by The New York Times, Zuckerberg met with Stephen Miller, a key aide to former President Donald Trump, and blamed Sandberg for Meta’s inclusivity initiatives. These initiatives had encouraged employees to express themselves in the workplace. Zuckerberg also signaled that he would not oppose the incoming administration’s efforts to roll back DEI culture in corporate America.

Sheryl Sandberg, a prominent advocate for gender equality, authored the best-selling book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” and founded the Lean In organization, a nonprofit dedicated to combating workplace gender inequality. A representative for Sandberg did not immediately respond to a request for comment from FOX Business.

Meta’s decision to end its DEI programs follows recent Supreme Court rulings that have reshaped the legal framework surrounding such initiatives. In a memo to employees, Meta Vice President of Human Resources Janelle Gale stated, “The legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts is changing.” She added that the term “DEI” has become “charged” due to perceptions of preferential treatment for certain groups.

The company has discontinued DEI-related hiring, training, and supplier selection programs. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s new chief global affairs officer, emphasized that the changes aim to ensure the company hires the most talented individuals. “This means evaluating people as individuals and sourcing from a range of candidate pools, but never making hiring decisions based on protected characteristics like race or gender,” Kaplan told Fox News Digital.

Meta’s move reflects broader corporate trends as companies reassess DEI initiatives in light of legal challenges and political pressures. The decision has sparked debate over the future of workplace inclusivity efforts in the tech industry and beyond.