Frank Dobbin

There were certain activists on the right, like Christopher Ruffo and Robbie Starbuck, who were coming out against big corporations that, for example, supported pride events or had public DEI announcements that were quite visible. And a bunch of companies between last June and the inauguration of Donald Trump did backtrack on things, and some of America's biggest employers backtracked on things.

There were certain activists on the right, like Christopher Ruffo and Robbie Starbuck, who were coming out against big corporations that, for example, supported pride events or had public DEI announcements that were quite visible. And a bunch of companies between last June and the inauguration of Donald Trump did backtrack on things, and some of America's biggest employers backtracked on things.

There were certain activists on the right, like Christopher Ruffo and Robbie Starbuck, who were coming out against big corporations that, for example, supported pride events or had public DEI announcements that were quite visible. And a bunch of companies between last June and the inauguration of Donald Trump did backtrack on things, and some of America's biggest employers backtracked on things.

But the things they backtracked on were kind of low-hanging fruit, things that probably weren't affecting their workforces much.

But the things they backtracked on were kind of low-hanging fruit, things that probably weren't affecting their workforces much.

But the things they backtracked on were kind of low-hanging fruit, things that probably weren't affecting their workforces much.

Well, for example, they didn't get rid of mentoring programs which can be super effective at helping people of color and women to – stay in the workforce and to move up. But they got rid of, for example, internships targeting black Americans, usually college students, or they just opened them up to everybody. So, you know, that's something that's kind of not part of the main HR strategy.

Well, for example, they didn't get rid of mentoring programs which can be super effective at helping people of color and women to – stay in the workforce and to move up. But they got rid of, for example, internships targeting black Americans, usually college students, or they just opened them up to everybody. So, you know, that's something that's kind of not part of the main HR strategy.

Well, for example, they didn't get rid of mentoring programs which can be super effective at helping people of color and women to – stay in the workforce and to move up. But they got rid of, for example, internships targeting black Americans, usually college students, or they just opened them up to everybody. So, you know, that's something that's kind of not part of the main HR strategy.

Some employers got rid of set-asides or preferences for, say, Use of women-owned businesses, women-owned suppliers or law firms and things like that. So they tended to get rid of things that specifically mentioned a group and not things that – were designed to just kind of open up the career system, like the skills training programs I mentioned.

Some employers got rid of set-asides or preferences for, say, Use of women-owned businesses, women-owned suppliers or law firms and things like that. So they tended to get rid of things that specifically mentioned a group and not things that – were designed to just kind of open up the career system, like the skills training programs I mentioned.

Some employers got rid of set-asides or preferences for, say, Use of women-owned businesses, women-owned suppliers or law firms and things like that. So they tended to get rid of things that specifically mentioned a group and not things that – were designed to just kind of open up the career system, like the skills training programs I mentioned.

A lot of employers help people of color to move up, just like they help working class white people to move up by offering apprenticeships and skills training. I didn't see those being closed down.

A lot of employers help people of color to move up, just like they help working class white people to move up by offering apprenticeships and skills training. I didn't see those being closed down.

A lot of employers help people of color to move up, just like they help working class white people to move up by offering apprenticeships and skills training. I didn't see those being closed down.

A for accessibility covers people with disabilities. And I think the surprise to me is that in some of the recent pronouncements from the Trump administration, DEIA is mentioned specifically. A very large number of people with disabilities are veterans. And a lot of activities that we think of as DEI activities are connected to veterans.

A for accessibility covers people with disabilities. And I think the surprise to me is that in some of the recent pronouncements from the Trump administration, DEIA is mentioned specifically. A very large number of people with disabilities are veterans. And a lot of activities that we think of as DEI activities are connected to veterans.

A for accessibility covers people with disabilities. And I think the surprise to me is that in some of the recent pronouncements from the Trump administration, DEIA is mentioned specifically. A very large number of people with disabilities are veterans. And a lot of activities that we think of as DEI activities are connected to veterans.

So when Ron DeSantis closed DEI offices in the University of Florida system— and fired a bunch of people, he was firing a bunch of Veterans Affairs officers as well as people who we think of traditionally as DEI officers. So to me, it's kind of surprising.

So when Ron DeSantis closed DEI offices in the University of Florida system— and fired a bunch of people, he was firing a bunch of Veterans Affairs officers as well as people who we think of traditionally as DEI officers. So to me, it's kind of surprising.