Summarised by Centrist
Boeing has disbanded its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department as the company redirects its focus to what it calls a “merit-based performance system.”
Former Vice President Sara Lian Bowen, who previously led DEI efforts, has left the company. The move, according to some, is part of a shift by large corporations away from “woke” policies due to economic pressure.
Boeing is cutting around 10% of its workforce (about 17,000 jobs) in response to financial challenges. CEO Kelly Ortberg stated the need for “structural changes” to keep the company competitive.
Ortberg noted that while Boeing remains committed to an “inclusive environment,” it now prioritises hiring and promotions based on performance rather than DEI metrics.
“It’s hard to overstate the challenges we face together,” Ortberg said in a memo, suggesting that DEI initiatives may no longer fit the company’s needs.
The decision has stirred debate. Anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck, who recently targeted Boeing, argued that such programmes “discriminate against white men.”
