✅ How corporate comms teams are managing the US Federal Government DEI policy reversal
The issue cuts across the relationship management perspective of government affairs, the media and employee relations
The corporate communications function faces the task of repositioning company DEI policies while balancing regulatory compliance, stakeholder expectations and organisational values.
President Trump has officially ended diversity and inclusion initiatives within the US government and corporate America. A White House statement in January 2025 described diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes as "illegal and immoral.” It called for their termination across the federal government, arguing that these initiatives constituted discriminatory practices rather than promoting equality.
The management challenge for companies lands on the desk of the chief executive and corporate communications team because it cuts across the relationship management perspective of government affairs, the media and employee relations.
Responses have varied widely, from public statements defending the shift to the quiet removal of DEI programmes. Supporters argue these changes return focus to merit-based decisions, while critics warn about potential impacts on workplace inclusion.
Media outlets are actively monitoring the reversal of corporate policy by companies such as Accenture, Amazon, Boeing, Disney, Ford and McDonalds. The business impact extends beyond compliance concerns to questions about talent acquisition and employee retention.
Some organisations are attempting to reframe the issue through language. JPMorgan Chase is rebranding its diversity, equity and inclusion programmes as "diversity, opportunity and inclusion."
The policy shift is a complex challenge for corporate communications teams. They must create messaging that balances regulatory compliance, corporate values and stakeholder expectations. It requires acknowledgement of political realities while maintaining authentic organisational commitments.
Have a good week ahead.
Industry
🤝 PUBLIC RELATIONS MOBILISATION: A Demos report has urged the UK Government to move beyond "command and control" towards a collaborative approach involving businesses and the public to achieve its missions. Public relations practitioners have the knowledge, skills and networks needed to facilitate this "mass mobilisation," positioning them as crucial partners in delivering the Labour Party's goals for growth, clean energy, crime reduction, NHS rebuilding and education reform. Source: Sarah Waddington.
💰 FREELANCE FINES: The Competition and Markets Authority fined BT, IMG, ITV, and BBC over £4.2 million for colluding on freelance pay rates in sports production, while Sky received immunity for reporting its involvement early. It said that companies must set rates independently to maintain competitive labour markets. Source: Prolific North.
🧑💻️ JOBS AT RISK: Practitioners facing job uncertainty can take practical steps to protect themselves. Join a union, ignore rumours, understand redundancy processes, document everything in writing, prioritise self-interest, seek support from those outside the situation, and maintain professionalism. Source: Dan Slee.
🛡️ PRIVACY WIN: Meta agreed to stop targeting UK campaigner Tanya O'Carroll with personalised adverts after settling a landmark privacy case. The UK Information Commissioner's Office supported users' right to object to targeted advertising, potentially setting a precedent for millions and prompting Meta to consider offering paid ad-free subscriptions to British users. Source: The Times.
Management
📱 LITERACY INQUIRY: The Parliamentary Communications and Digital Committee has launched an inquiry into UK media literacy. Research revealed that only 45% of adults can confidently judge information truthfulness and only 30% can identify AI-generated content. The deadline for written evidence is Friday, 11 April 2025. Source: UK Parliament.
🌐 MEDIA PLANNING: The Digital Media Arena (DMA) framework expands the traditional PESO model to include 14 distinct types of media, organised by message control versus amplification and moderation. The so-called "PESO on steroids" approach shifts strategic communication from a broadcast mindset towards dialogue. Source: Wadds Inc.
🛫 AIRPORT CHAOS: Heathrow Airport has resumed operations after a power outage that shut down Europe's busiest hub for almost a day. The incident prompted investigations from both the government and airport management, while British Airways operated around 90% of flights despite passenger disruption that aviation experts compared to the 2010 Icelandic volcanic ash cloud. Source: Reuters.
Artificial intelligence
🚨 DEFAMATION ALERT: ChatGPT falsely depicted a Norwegian user as a convicted child murderer, prompting a second GDPR complaint by activist group None of Your Business against OpenAI for violating data accuracy principles. The case rests on whether disclaimers about potential inaccuracies exempt AI companies from legal obligations to ensure data accuracy and protect individuals from reputational damage. Source: noyb.
📊 AI TRAFFIC INSIGHTS: Google's AI Overviews now appear in more than ten percent of searches, affecting nearly 19 million keywords - a 91% increase in six months. Semrush data suggests that publishers see "roughly the same amount of traffic" from searches with AI Overviews though the introduction of AI Mode, which keeps users within the Google AI tool, is likely to lead to a reduction. Source: DigiDay.
📜 COPYRIGHT BATTLE: The entertainment industry's fight against AI companies has intensified as over 400 high-profile creators demand fair compensation for copyrighted material used in AI training. It mirrors the long struggle by publishers with content scraping and highlights broader copyright concerns affecting creative sectors globally. It’s an issue that will be high on the agenda of the 2025 AMEC Measurement and Evaluation Global Summit in Vienna (June 10-12). Source: Johna Burke.
Sarah Waddington CBE is a director of Wadds Inc. and Interim CEO of the PRCA.
Thanks to Johna Burke, Prof Dr Lee Edwards, Alan Morrison, Dan Slee and Sarah Waddington CBE and everyone who shares and debates the stories in the newsletter via our Facebook and LinkedIn communities.