Verizon ends DEI policies as the company moves forward with its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications. The announcement came just one day after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave Verizon the green light to purchase broadband provider Frontier Communications. This massive deal will expand internet access to 25 states and bring fiber-optic coverage to at least 1 million new homes per year.
Verizon’s Internal Memo Details Immediate Rollback of DEI Programs
In a letter sent to federal officials and later obtained by the press, Verizon’s EVP & Chief Legal Officer, Vandana Venkatesh, outlined the company’s sweeping decision to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across its workforce and internal systems.
“In response to this changing landscape, Verizon has been evaluating its DEI-related programs, HR processes, supplier programs, training materials, and other initiatives,” Venkatesh wrote.
Effective immediately, the changes include:
- Altering job functions and leadership structures
- Removing DEI references from training and onboarding materials
- Eliminating supplier programs rooted in DEI goals
- Updating corporate policy to focus on advancing core business objectives
Venkatesh emphasized, “Verizon is making these changes to its practices not just in name or in the way they are described, but in substance.”
Trump-Era Executive Orders and Federal Contract Pressure Spark Corporate DEI Rollbacks
Verizon’s DEI reversal comes in the wake of two executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump, which aimed to dismantle DEI programs within the federal government. These orders labeled many DEI practices as “illegal” racial and gender-based preference systems.
Because Verizon—like many other large corporations—is also a federal contractor, the pressure to conform to revised federal standards has become harder to ignore.
Conclusion: Verizon Ends DEI Policies, Marking Major Corporate Shift Amid Federal Scrutiny
The news that Verizon ends DEI policies just as the FCC approved its $20 billion broadband expansion deal marks a major turning point in how corporations are navigating federal pressure around diversity and inclusion efforts.
Whether this move signals a wider trend among federal contractors or sparks backlash from equity advocates, it’s clear that corporate America is being reshaped by political influence—and public opinion is watching closely.