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Target said Friday that it is ending multiple diversity-related programs.
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A memo said the moves help the company remain "in step with the evolving external landscape."
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The reversal follows moves by several major retailers, including Walmart and Tractor Supply Co.
Target is the latest major retailer to reverse course on its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
In a Friday memo to staff, Target's chief community impact and equity officer, Kiera Fernandez, said the company is ending multiple diversity-related programs, including the planned conclusion of a racial equity initiative and the end of all external diversity surveys.
Fernandez said the strategy was based on "many years of data, insights, listening and learning" to help the company remain "in step with the evolving external landscape."
In addition, the memo said Target is renaming its "Supplier Diversity" team as "Supplier Engagement" and will evaluate its corporate partnerships.
The reversal follows moves by several major retailers in recent months, including Walmart and Tractor Supply Co., as well as this week's sweeping new rules from President Donald Trump ordering the end of DEI programs at federal agencies.
Other companies have defended their diversity policies amid anti-DEI pressures. On Thursday, Costco shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal from a conservative think tank to evaluate the potential legal and financial risks of the wholesale club's DEI-related policies after the company recommended investors vote against it.
In finance, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon affirmed his company's commitment to DEI and dismissed a conservative shareholder group's criticisms. "Bring them on," he said.
Target has faced pressure from conservative groups over the years in response to issues ranging from what shelves toys are sold on to the company's offering of LGBTQ+ merchandise during Pride month.
CEO Brian Cornell previously defended DEI as "good business decisions, and it's the right thing for society, and it's the great thing for our brand."
Read the memo sent to Target employees:
From: Kiera Fernandez
Subject line: Belonging at the Bullseye
Hi team,
As we close the fiscal year and welcome 2025, I want to share how my team and I have been planning for the year ahead and beyond, ensuring even closer connections to our enterprise roadmap for growth.
For more than 20 years, Target has fueled our business by building teams with diverse perspectives and experiences, creating inclusive work and guest environments that welcome all, and developing strategies that represent the U.S. consumers we serve.