Report: Microsoft shuts down diversity, equity and inclusion team

• The exact number of affected staff is undisclosed

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Microsoft has reportedly shut down a major team dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

According to IGN, Microsoft disbanded its DEI team on Monday, July 1st 2024, citing “changing business needs” in an email sent to thousands of employees. 

While the exact number of affected staff is undisclosed, a former team lead believes the cuts happened due to the Project 2025 conservative policy plan.

“True systems change work associated with DEI programs everywhere are no longer business critical or smart as they were in 2020,” they wrote in an email. 

“The timing was impeccable, so businesses everywhere could reevaluate the path forward should their US federal contracts be at risk if the work continues on its face.”

Bolstering DEI efforts 

The email also alleged discrimination, harassment and toxicity from executive leadership. However, they emphasised that the DEI teams still achieved significant progress as “impossible mountains were moved”.

DEI initiatives have expanded across the tech space in recent years as companies pledged to bolster their diversity efforts.

Microsoft had previously aimed to double Black leadership by 2025, though progress is unclear.

Meanwhile, Zoom, Google and Meta have reportedly scaled back their DEI programs in recent times, according to Bloomberg and CNBC.