Alphabet’s Google is discontinuing its goal to increase hiring from underrepresented groups and is reassessing some of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, aligning with a trend among U.S. companies to scale back such efforts. “In 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on expanding our offices outside California and New York to enhance representation,” stated Fiona Cicconi, Alphabet’s chief people officer, in a memo reviewed by Reuters. “…but moving forward, we will no longer have aspirational goals.” Google has been a prominent advocate for inclusive policies, particularly following the protests against police violence in 2020. At that time, CEO Sundar Pichai aimed for a 30% increase in leaders from underrepresented groups by 2025, with 96% of Google’s U.S. leaders being white or Asian and 73% globally being men. In 2021, the company began evaluating executive performance based on team diversity and inclusion after a notable AI research leader was dismissed following her criticism of Google’s diversity efforts. In a 2024 interview with BBC, Google’s chief diversity officer Melonie Parker noted that the company had achieved 60% of its five-year goals. However, an Alphabet spokesperson indicated that there were no updated figures regarding Pichai’s objectives. The company’s annual filing with the U.S. SEC revealed the omission of a commitment statement to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into its operations, a statement that had appeared in annual reports from 2021 to 2024. The spokesperson explained that this change reflects the company’s review of its DEI programs. As a federal contractor, Google is also assessing policy changes initiated by President Donald Trump that aimed to limit DEI efforts in government and among federal contractors. “Because we are a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes to our programs required to comply with recent court decisions and U.S. Executive Orders on this topic,” Cicconi mentioned in the email. The company will continue to support internal employee groups such as “Trans at Google,” “Black Googler Network,” and the “Disability Alliance,” which inform product and policy decisions. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the memo. In January, Facebook parent Meta Platforms announced it was discontinuing its DEI programs, including those related to hiring, training, and supplier selection. Similarly, Amazon stated it was “winding down outdated programs and materials” concerning representation and inclusion in a memo to employees.
Google has abandoned its hiring goals focused on diversity.
