Meta’s DEI Termination: Half of Employees Oppose It
45% of Meta employees opposed the abolition of DEI programs, while 43% agreed with the move. Professional social platform Blind conducted a survey for 965 verified Meta professionals between January 16 and 19, 2025.
Janelle Gale, Meta's Vice President of Human Resources, announced the immediate termination of the DEI(Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) program in a memo sent to employees on January 10. The moves came just three days after Meta ended its third-party fact-checking on January 7.
According to the same survey, employees' opinions on the termination of third-party fact-checking were similarly polarized: 42% oppose the termination, while 36% support it.
“We didn't end DEI. We shifted DEI to focus on hiring MAGAs,” a verified Meta professional reported on Blind, claiming that Meta suddenly terminated policies it had maintained for years, under pressure from the Trump administration. Meta launched the DEI program in 2021 and third-party fact-checking in 2016.
Polarized Views
This divide stems from differing evaluations of the performance of these policies. In the case of DEI, 44% of employees assessed it as having a positive impact on the company, while 38% believed it had a negative impact.
Among the Meta employees who viewed DEI positively, many pointed to the benefits of increased diversity and its role in driving innovation. In contrast, those who viewed DEI negatively often cited reverse discrimination against the majority and concerns over a compromised performance-driven work environment.
“We need to check the real flavor of the talent. Some hired through DEI haven’t delivered strong results,” a verified Meta professional reported on Blind. Another employee quickly retorted, “We’ve seen countless people who weren’t hired through DEI and still fail to deliver strong results. But we don’t blame it on their race.”
Meanwhile, 45% of employees viewed third-party fact-checking as having a positive impact on the service, while 34% believed it had a negative impact. Among those who saw the program positively, many emphasized its role in preventing the spread of fake news. On the other hand, those who viewed it negatively often pointed to the creation of bias in the information presented as the main reason for their assessment.
Industry Ripple
Meta's rapid policy shift following the Trump administration's inauguration has drawn significant attention within the industry. On the day Meta announced the termination of DEI, a poll was posted on Blind asking whether the decision was the right one. In the survey, which had over 4,700 participants, around 60% responded positively, reflecting a more favorable reaction compared to that of Meta employees.
Industry observers suggest this could signal a wider shift in Silicon Valley. "Pretty soon talented people will avoid companies that actively participate in DEI," a Google employee commented, while others predict that more companies might follow Meta's lead in response to attract better talent and to secure the company's future.
Methodology
Blind conducted an online survey of 965 verified Meta professionals from January 16 to 19, 2025, on its platform to gather their opinions on Meta’s decision to abolish DEI and third-party fact-checking. Survey respondents were asked to respond with “Agree,” “Disagree,” or “Unsure” to the following questions:
- Do you agree with the decision to abolish DEI?
- Do you agree with the decision to abolish third-party fact-checking?
Additionally, respondents were asked to indicate “Positive Impact,” “Negative Impact,” “Unsure,” or “Other” to the following questions, and to provide a reason for their choice:
- What impact do you think DEI has had on the company in recent years?
- What impact do you think third-party fact-checking has had on the service in recent years?
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