Ford said it will scale back its DEI initiatives and scrap participation in an LGBTQ-backed “corporate equality index” — joining several high-profile companies that have recently curtailed their controversial programs, according to a statement from the Detroit auto giant’s boss.
Robby Starbuck, the right-leaning influencer who has successfully mounted social media campaigns that have forced companies to abandon diversity, equity and inclusion policies, posted a statement on his X account Wednesday from Ford CEO Jim Farley announcing the shift.
Farley’s memo to staffers, which was confirmed as authentic, said that Ford would “stop participating in external culture surveys such as the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index” as well as “various ‘best places to work’ lists.”
The Human Rights Campaign, one of the country’s largest LGBTQ advocacy groups, developed the index as “the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees.”
Farley also said the company would reallocate some of its corporate sponsorships and pledged that the company would refrain from commenting on the “many polarizing issues of the day.”
“We are mindful that our employees and customers hold a wide range of beliefs,” Farley wrote. “The external and legal environment related to political and social issues continues to evolve.”
The Post has sought comment from Ford and HRC.
Starbuck said the memo was sent to him as a preemptive measure due to “fear they have of being the next company that we expose.”
“Sanity is coming for corporate America,” Starbuck triumphantly declared to his 585,000 followers on X.
In the past months, companies such as Tractor Supply, John Deere, Harley Davidson, Polaris, Indian Motorcycle and Lowe’s have either scrapped or revised their DEI initiatives following pressure campaigns waged by Starbuck.
Corporations throughout the US announced their commitment to DEI following the May 2020 police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Ford was one of many companies that pledged to promote DEI initiatives and to strengthen ERGs, particularly for those representing minority communities.
Ford Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, also donated hundreds of millions of dollars to racial justice groups in the aftermath of Floyd’s death.
Rival automaker General Motors doled out at least $110 million to DEI and other woke initiatives since 2020, according to their own public documents.
The company gave $10 million in grants in 2020 “to support organizations that promote inclusion” through a dedicated “justice and inclusion fund.”
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