Some black-owned businesses are speaking out against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, arguing that these programs have failed to benefit them as promised. In a recent report by Reuters, black business owners expressed skepticism over DEI policies and showed little concern over the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle them nationwide.
Casey Cooper, a black business owner, told Reuters that DEI initiatives may look good on paper but have not provided meaningful support for minority entrepreneurs. “DEI isn’t for us,” Cooper said. “It looks good on paper, but that money doesn’t go to us anyway.”
Similarly, Wendell Stemley, president of the National Association of Minority Contractors, challenged the narrative that DEI programs have meaningfully helped black-owned businesses secure government contracts. “People want you to believe that, oh, the government got this big minority business program to give Blacks these multitude of contracts,” Stemley said. “That’s just not the way it works.”
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate DEI programs throughout the federal government, calling them “wasteful” and “radical.” He followed up with another executive order on Jan. 22, directing agencies to end DEI-based contracting preferences and to combat discrimination in the private sector. Trump’s actions reversed the Biden administration’s aggressive DEI push, which had allocated millions of dollars to K-12 education grants and government agency programs promoting racial and gender preferences.
The backlash against DEI policies is not limited to government programs. Several major corporations, including Boeing, Walmart, Lowe’s, and Ford Motors, have scaled back their DEI initiatives amid growing public opposition. However, some companies, such as Costco, continue to support diversity initiatives.
Trump’s rollback of DEI policies aligns with his broader pledge to eliminate “woke” ideology in government and business. While DEI programs were initially framed as efforts to promote inclusivity, many black business owners argue that they have done little to address real economic disparities. As more companies and government entities distance themselves from DEI, its long-term viability as a policy approach remains in question.
