Lowe's Cuts Diversity Efforts Amid Backlash

Lowe’s has decided to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, following a trend among several companies after the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling against affirmative action in July 2023. The company will cease participation in the Human Rights Campaign's annual workplace inclusion survey for LGBTQ+ employees and will consolidate its resource groups into one umbrella organization. Lowe’s leadership cited the need to ensure that its policies are 'lawful' and aligned with a commitment to 'include everyone'. Conservative influencer Robby Starbuck claimed credit for the changes, stating he had contacted Lowe's executives to expose what he termed 'woke' policies, although Lowe’s denied any direct connection to his campaign. The shift reflects a broader corporate retreat from DEI initiatives amid increasing conservative pressure and backlash. Previous companies making similar adjustments include Harley-Davidson, John Deere, and Tractor Supply.