T‑Mobile has announced plans to wind down its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative as the telecom giant seeks approval from U.S. regulators ahead of a major merger.
The company confirmed on Wednesday that it will phase out its DEI training and programming, saying the move is intended to “align the organization with regulatory expectations” under scrutiny as it moves forward with its acquisition of a rival carrier.
T‑Mobile executives emphasised that core values of diversity and inclusion will continue to shape hiring and corporate culture, even as formal DEI structures are dismantled. The company stated its intention to maintain diverse leadership and worker representation without dedicated DEI staff or content.
Industry observers suggest this decision may be driven by pressure from regulators concerned that DEI efforts in large corporations could reflect political bias or influence competition oversight in sensitive sectors.
T‑Mobile’s announcement comes as it awaits regulatory clearance for its pending merger—believed to involve T‑Mobile’s acquisition of a significant regional operator. Management hopes that removing DEI programming could help ease concerns about ideological influence affecting market competition.
The transition is expected to begin immediately and conclude within several months, with T‑Mobile pledging to report on employment diversity metrics publicly.
With input from Al Jazeera
The latest news in your social feeds
Subscribe to our social media platforms to stay tuned