Alphabet’s Google has announced it is discontinuing its goal of increasing hiring from underrepresented groups and is reassessing some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, following a broader trend among U.S. companies reducing their diversity efforts.
In a message to employees, Fiona Cicconi, Alphabet’s chief people officer, stated that the company would no longer set aspirational hiring targets after having previously focused on expanding its workforce outside of California and New York to improve representation.
Google had been a vocal advocate for inclusive policies, particularly after the 2020 protests following the police killings of George Floyd and other Black Americans. In that year, CEO Sundar Pichai set a target of increasing the representation of underrepresented groups in leadership roles by 30% by 2025. At the time, 96% of U.S. leaders were white or Asian, and 73% were male globally.
The company had also begun evaluating executive performance based on team diversity and inclusion, though it faced controversy after a prominent AI researcher was dismissed following criticism of Google’s diversity initiatives. In 2024, Google’s chief diversity officer stated that the company had met 60% of its five-year diversity goals.
In its annual filing with the U.S. SEC, Alphabet removed a statement that previously underscored its commitment to diversity in all aspects of its operations. This omission reflects the company’s ongoing review of its DEI programs.
Parul Koul, president of the Alphabet Workers Union, criticized the move, arguing that it undermines progress made in combating racism, gender, and LGBTQ discrimination in the tech industry. She described the shift as part of a broader right-wing, anti-worker trend in tech.
Google, a federal contractor, also announced that it is revising its policies to comply with changes to DEI regulations under recent U.S. executive orders. Despite these adjustments, the company will continue to support internal employee groups such as the “Black Googler Network” and “Disability Alliance,” which provide input on products and policies.
Other tech companies, including Meta Platforms and Amazon, have similarly scaled back their DEI programs in recent months, amid mounting opposition from conservative groups and a 2023 Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action in university admissions.
