Walmart wants to scale back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, is rolling back its diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

That puts it in line with several major companies that have reviewed their operations after facing significant pressure from conservatives.

One example of the retailer’s reported setbacks, according to the Associated Press, is that it will no longer consider race and gender as a way to increase diversity when providing supplier contracts.

The company said it does not currently have quotas and does not plan to continue to do so; However, the plan was to stop collecting demographic data in determining grant eligibility.

In a statement to ABC News, Walmart said: “Our purpose of helping people save money and live better lives has been at our core since our founding 62 years ago and continues to guide us today. We can make it happen because we are willing to make a difference together with our employees and customers who represent all of America.”

“We have been on a journey and know we are not perfect,” the statement continued, “but every decision comes from a desire to foster a sense of belonging and close doors of opportunity for all of our employees, clients and customers Open suppliers and be a Walmart for everyone.”

Walmart will also “review grants for Pride events to ensure it does not financially support sexualized content aimed at children,” the retail giant told the AP.

The changes also extend to Walmart’s large third-party marketplace.

For example, these third-party retailers will no longer be allowed to offer and sell “sex and transgender products for minors,” the company said. One example is breast binders for young people who may use the products as part of their gender-affirming care.

The world’s largest retailer confirmed the changes on Monday.

They were first announced in a post on X by conservative political commentator Robby Starbuck.

He said he had been in contact with the Arkansas-based company about a story he wrote about “wokeness,” which led to “productive conversations” — and ultimately led to a reversal of Walmart’s DEI approaches.

Other changes Starbuck listed in its announcement included: discontinuing racial equity training through the Racial Equity Institute, ending participation in the Human Rights Coalition’s Corporate Equity Index (a national benchmarking tool for LGBTQ people); and eliminating the use of Latinx (a gender-neutral word for someone of Latin descent).

He also stated that Walmart would eliminate the use of the term “DEI” altogether.

“This is the biggest victory yet for our movement to end wokeism in corporate America,” wrote Starbuck, who has also campaigned against companies including Boeing, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply and Deere & Co.