DEI, DOA: How the defense industry is racing to bury its diversity efforts
Defense primes have rushed to wipe web pages and remove previous claims of "unwavering" commitment to DEI efforts since President Donald Trump has taken office.
By Valerie Insinna and Michael Marrow
on February 13, 2025 at 9:26 AM
WASHINGTON — A month ahead of the #NatSecGirlSquad conference in March, organizer Maggie Feldman-Piltch is facing a problem that has been unprecedented in her 10 years of putting on the event.
In the wake of President Donald Trump’s Jan. 21 executive order, which directs federal contractors to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices, there has been radio silence from defense companies who previously bought exhibit space, underwrote meals and otherwise sponsored the conference.
“Nobody,” she said, “is returning emails.”
It’s just one example of how, in the wake of Trump’s executive order, defense contractors are beating a hasty retreat from their previous commitments to DEI initiatives and reshaping their public-facing images to fit the administration’s vision — spelled out in felt-tip pen by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his first memo to the Pentagon, that “DoD ≠ DEI.”
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/02/dei-doa-how-the-defense-industry-is-racing-to-bury-its-diversity-efforts/
