Maria Aspin

But some of the companies did give me some clues.

But some of the companies did give me some clues.

Well, there's a lot going on, but a few of these companies referred specifically to President Trump's new executive orders ending DEI in the federal government. These orders also threatened to sanction private companies that are federal contractors that have what Trump called illegal DEI programs. And Google, for example, is a federal contractor.

Well, there's a lot going on, but a few of these companies referred specifically to President Trump's new executive orders ending DEI in the federal government. These orders also threatened to sanction private companies that are federal contractors that have what Trump called illegal DEI programs. And Google, for example, is a federal contractor.

Well, there's a lot going on, but a few of these companies referred specifically to President Trump's new executive orders ending DEI in the federal government. These orders also threatened to sanction private companies that are federal contractors that have what Trump called illegal DEI programs. And Google, for example, is a federal contractor.

A spokesperson this week told me that Google is evaluating the changes required by Trump's executive orders, and Google, I should note, is one of NPR's funders. Another company I talked to was 3M. It's that big conglomerate that makes Post-it notes and chemicals and a bunch of other stuff. It's also a federal contractor.

A spokesperson this week told me that Google is evaluating the changes required by Trump's executive orders, and Google, I should note, is one of NPR's funders. Another company I talked to was 3M. It's that big conglomerate that makes Post-it notes and chemicals and a bunch of other stuff. It's also a federal contractor.

A spokesperson this week told me that Google is evaluating the changes required by Trump's executive orders, and Google, I should note, is one of NPR's funders. Another company I talked to was 3M. It's that big conglomerate that makes Post-it notes and chemicals and a bunch of other stuff. It's also a federal contractor.

3M also deleted some references to diversity from its latest annual report, and a spokesperson specifically mentioned the executive orders when he talked to me.

3M also deleted some references to diversity from its latest annual report, and a spokesperson specifically mentioned the executive orders when he talked to me.

3M also deleted some references to diversity from its latest annual report, and a spokesperson specifically mentioned the executive orders when he talked to me.

So Trump's executive orders are definitely adding to the pressure, but corporate America was already facing a lot of pressure from critics of DEI who say that it is itself discriminatory. The bigger picture here is just that big companies are pretty risk-averse. I talked about this with Becky Baker, who's an employment lawyer with Finson & Elkins.

So Trump's executive orders are definitely adding to the pressure, but corporate America was already facing a lot of pressure from critics of DEI who say that it is itself discriminatory. The bigger picture here is just that big companies are pretty risk-averse. I talked about this with Becky Baker, who's an employment lawyer with Finson & Elkins.

So Trump's executive orders are definitely adding to the pressure, but corporate America was already facing a lot of pressure from critics of DEI who say that it is itself discriminatory. The bigger picture here is just that big companies are pretty risk-averse. I talked about this with Becky Baker, who's an employment lawyer with Finson & Elkins.

She says that DEI was a really popular buzzword in corporate America five years ago, but now it's kind of politically toxic.

She says that DEI was a really popular buzzword in corporate America five years ago, but now it's kind of politically toxic.

She says that DEI was a really popular buzzword in corporate America five years ago, but now it's kind of politically toxic.

So she's not surprised by the changes all of these companies are making, and she's expecting us to see a lot more.

So she's not surprised by the changes all of these companies are making, and she's expecting us to see a lot more.

So she's not surprised by the changes all of these companies are making, and she's expecting us to see a lot more.