Verizon Communications has officially scaled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies as part of a strategic move that coincided with federal approval of a major business transaction, NPR reports.
On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Verizon’s $20 billion acquisition of broadband provider Frontier Communications, a deal that will significantly expand Verizon’s internet infrastructure across 25 states, including rural areas.
In its announcement, the FCC emphasized that the transaction would accelerate fiber-optic deployment, targeting at least one million homes per year. Alongside infrastructure improvements, the Commission also highlighted changes to Verizon’s internal policies, noting the company’s decision to discontinue certain DEI-related practices.
According to a letter sent by Verizon’s Chief Legal Officer Vandana Venkatesh to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr the day before the approval, the company has begun removing DEI references from training materials and external websites, has ended performance bonuses linked to workforce diversity metrics, and is dissolving its internal DEI-specific human resources division. Those employees will now be reassigned to broader HR functions.
“We are committed to creating a culture that leverages and values each person’s unique strengths and talents,” Venkatesh wrote, while also acknowledging that “the regulatory and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion has changed.”
Verizon is not alone in revisiting its DEI policies. Other major corporations—including General Motors, Pepsi, and Disney—have made similar adjustments, with many removing DEI language from investor communications and other public-facing documents.
These developments come amid a broader reassessment of DEI initiatives in corporate America. Following a wave of DEI pledges in the wake of nationwide protests in 2020, the landscape has shifted significantly, particularly under the Trump administration. President Trump’s recent executive orders target what he describes as “illegal DEI” programs in the federal government, a move that has influenced both federal contractors and companies seeking regulatory approvals.
The FCC has taken a prominent role in this shift. In addition to its scrutiny of Verizon, the agency has opened investigations into Disney and Comcast over DEI-related concerns. Earlier this year, T-Mobile similarly reported scaling back DEI programs shortly before gaining FCC approval for its acquisition of fiber operator Lumos.
