JPMorgan Chase & Co., the largest bank in the United States, has announced a rebranding of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program to Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion (DOI).
The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its attack on corporate DEI initiatives, pushing companies to reconsider their approach to diversity efforts.
In a memo to staff, JPMorgan’s Chief Operating Officer, Jenn Piepszak, explained that the bank always understood the “E” in DEI to mean equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. She stated that DOI more accurately reflects the bank’s ongoing approach to growing its business while reaching the most customers and clients.
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The decision aligns with a broader shift in corporate America, as many companies have begun reversing, scaling back, or completely eliminating DEI programs in response to increasing political scrutiny.
Trump Administration’s DEI Crackdown
Since taking office in January, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI policies across the federal government and corporate sectors. These measures have banned federal agencies and contractors from funding DEI programs, forcing them to erase references to diversity efforts from their websites. They have also restricted corporate hiring and promotion initiatives that incorporate race or gender considerations while threatening legal action against companies that continue to operate DEI policies deemed discriminatory.
As a result, major corporations are adjusting their policies to avoid potential legal and regulatory battles.
JPMorgan’s New Approach to Diversity
While renaming the initiative, JPMorgan insists it remains committed to diversity in hiring, compensation, and promotions—without implementing quotas or race-based pay incentives. In her memo, Piepszak reassured employees that the bank does not have illegal quotas or pay incentives and would never turn someone away because of their political or religious beliefs, or because of who they are.
The bank also announced that it will scale back diversity training programs, maintaining only what it describes as “high-quality offerings.” Employee resource groups, which serve as internal communities for minority and marginalized employees, will remain but will shift their focus to engagement, cultural celebrations, and education rather than direct advocacy.
Other Major Companies Scaling Back DEI
JPMorgan is not alone in making adjustments. Several high-profile companies have also scaled back or eliminated DEI programs in response to political pressure. Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have reduced their diversity hiring targets following scrutiny from conservative groups and political leaders. Walt Disney Co. has quietly removed references to DEI from its corporate strategy, shifting its focus toward traditional merit-based hiring.
Accenture, a global consulting giant, has announced it will no longer use diversity targets in hiring and promotions, citing Trump’s executive orders. Swiss pharmaceutical companies Novartis and Roche have abandoned certain DEI initiatives over concerns about potential legal risks in the U.S. market. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has disbanded its DEI team, with reports suggesting the company is distancing itself from DEI-related policies.
This wave of corporate rollbacks signals a shift in corporate America’s approach to diversity policies, as businesses attempt to navigate political pressure while maintaining their commitments to inclusion.
The dismantling of DEI initiatives has sparked criticism from civil rights groups, legal scholars, and corporate leaders, who warn that reducing diversity efforts could expose companies to lawsuits for failing to uphold workplace inclusion policies. Many argue that these rollbacks will discourage minority hiring and promotion opportunities, leading to long-term workforce disparities. Others caution that the removal of structured diversity programs could create a hostile work environment for employees who previously benefited from them.
Despite these concerns, Trump’s administration remains firm in its stance against DEI, claiming that such programs promote discrimination rather than prevent it.