AT&T Vows to Eliminate DEI Policies, End Training That Called Racism a ‘Uniquely White Trait’

AT&T announced it is scrapping its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs — including controversial employee training that once described racism as a “uniquely white trait” — in a sweeping shift aligning with the Trump administration’s national push to dismantle race-based policies.

In a letter sent Monday to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, the telecom giant declared it had “adjusted [its] employment and business practices to ensure that they comply with all applicable laws and related requirements, including ending DEI-related policies … not just in name but in substance.” The statement came from AT&T’s top legal executive, David McAtee.

The move comes as the legal and regulatory landscape surrounding DEI rapidly shifts, following President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting race-based hiring and corporate training. A 2023 Supreme Court ruling dismantling affirmative action in college admissions has further fueled challenges to DEI frameworks across both public and private sectors.

AT&T, which employs over 110,000 people in the U.S., said it would no longer maintain DEI-related employee positions, enforce race or gender-based hiring or contracting quotas, or offer any DEI training to employees.

That includes past materials which, according to leaked documents in 2021, promoted the idea that white employees were inherently responsible for racism. One widely circulated module told white employees, “You are the problem,” and urged them to embrace critical race theory resources like White America, if you want to know who’s responsible for racism, look in the mirror.

Those programs sparked backlash when exposed by Manhattan Institute fellow Christopher Rufo, a leading critic of critical race theory and DEI initiatives in corporate America.

McAtee’s letter emphasized that AT&T will now operate on a strict merit-based model. “AT&T has always stood for merit-based opportunity,” he wrote. “We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to equal employment opportunity and nondiscrimination today.”

However, the company said it will continue to allow employee-led affinity groups — such as women’s networks or Black employee associations — but stressed that no one would be excluded based on race, gender, or other protected characteristics. The company also confirmed it will no longer participate in external surveys tracking protected class data, such as those compiled by the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

The announcement follows similar moves by major telecom rivals Verizon and T-Mobile, all of whom are under increasing scrutiny from the FCC. Chairman Carr has signaled that companies will face obstacles in obtaining critical federal licenses unless they jettison divisive DEI programs.

Earlier this year, Skydance Media made a similar promise to dismantle DEI structures at Paramount as it sought approval for an $8.4 billion merger. The FCC approved the deal just one day later.

With President Trump now well into his second term, the administration has made it clear that any corporation doing business with or regulated by the federal government will need to abandon DEI to move forward.

AT&T’s sharp reversal marks a major win for conservatives who have spent years warning that diversity programs often become vehicles for race-based discrimination and left-wing political indoctrination. It also represents a growing realization among corporate giants: merit, not identity politics, is making a comeback.