Verizon Capitulates to Trump Administration, Cutting All DEI Programs

Telecommunications giant Verizon is ending several internal programs that foster—or simply mention—a diverse workforce, following a federal probe and threats from Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr. After President Trump issued an executive order to rid the federal government of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives, the FCC launched a formal investigation into Verizon’s corporate diversity practices. The probe arrived as Verizon awaited approval for its planned $9.6 billion takeover of Frontier Communications. Chairman Carr has been open about leveraging the Frontier deal against Verizon. Asked in a CNBC interview whether he would block Verizon’s purchase if it didn’t shut down workplace diversity programs, he replied, “I’ve told everybody if they want to get a deal done before the FCC, they need to get rid of any invidious forms of discrimination.” In a May 15 letter to Carr, Verizon chief legal officer Vandana Venkatesh writes that the company will comply with the government’s wishes. “Delivering for customers requires attracting the best talent from across the country,” Venkatesh says. “We are committed to creating a culture that leverages and values each person’s unique strengths and talents. These values have been fundamental to our Verizon culture since our founding 25 years ago. However, we recognize that the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion has changed.”