Google Ends Diversity-based Hirings in Line with Donald Trump’s Order: ‘Will No Longer Have Aspirational Goals’

Years after championing workplace inclusivity, Google subsidiary of Alphabet, is reportedly discontinuing its initiative to hire more employees from underrepresented communities, according to Reuters.

The tech behemoth has also stated that it will reassess its diversity-focused hiring programs by the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

“In 2020, we set aspirational hiring goals and focused on growing our offices outside California and New York to improve presentation,” Reuters quoted Fiona Cicconi, Alphabet's chief people officer, as saying in an email to staff on Wednesday. “...but in the future, we will no longer have ambition,” Cicconi added in the email.

Over the past few years, Google has been re-evaluating its diversity program. As a federal contractor, the company is considering adjustments in light of recent executive orders, it stated.

“We’ve updated our 10-K language to reflect this, and as a federal contractor, our teams are also evaluating changes required following recent court decisions and executive orders on this topic,” Google said in a statement, as reported by The Guardian.

Trump Administration’s Order DEI Programs

Shortly after assuming office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting DEI programs across federal agencies. He also mandated a review of federal grants to ensure they were not allocated toward supporting similar DEI initiatives.

Google had long been an advocate for inclusive workplace policies, particularly in the wake of the nationwide protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd and other Black Americans in 2020.

Google’s Leadership Diversity Goal

In 2020, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a commitment to improving leadership diversity within the company. The goal was to increase the hiring of leaders from underrepresented groups by 30% by 2025. This initiative aimed to create a more inclusive workplace and address long-standing concerns about diversity in the tech industry.

By 2021, Google took a more structured approach by linking executive performance evaluations to diversity and inclusion metrics. This step was intended to hold leaders accountable for fostering diverse teams and promoting an equitable work environment. However, the company faced criticism regarding its diversity efforts, particularly after the departure of a well-known artificial intelligence researcher. The researcher had reportedly raised concerns about Google’s handling of diversity initiatives before their abrupt exit, sparking debates about the company’s true commitment to inclusion.

Despite these challenges, Google continued to emphasize its diversity goals, recognizing the importance of depiction at all levels. The initiative aligns with broader industry efforts to bridge diversity gaps and promote equal opportunities in leadership positions. Google aims to build a workplace that reflects the diverse perspectives of its global user base while addressing concerns about bias in technology development.