Verizon Ends DEI Programs Amid FCC Scrutiny Ahead of $20 Billion Frontier Bid

Critics say DEI fosters division and discrimination, while advocates say rollbacks could erase progress on corporate diversity.

A Verizon store in Washington on Oct. 3, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Verizon Communications has announced the end of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, aligning itself with a growing federal and corporate movement toward merit-based practices in hiring, training, and advancement.

In a May 15 letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, Verizon said it had eliminated DEI-specific roles, removed DEI references from employee training and marketing, and restructured programs around hiring, supplier partnerships, and executive compensation.