Home Depot is the latest major U.S. retailer to quietly backpedal on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, leaving customers furious and threatening to boycott.
In a move that’s flown under the radar for weeks, Home Depot removed its dedicated DEI page from the company website. What was once a prominently placed corporate value has now been replaced with a more vague “WeAreTHD” branding page, one that notably omits all references to DEI. The change aligns with similar moves by Walmart and Target, and some speculate it’s all in response to mounting political pressure from former President Donald Trump.
The removal reportedly took place around March 28, 2025. Before that, the DEI statement under the “Responsibility” section of Home Depot’s website read:
“We strive to ensure that our company culture maintains a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment so that we can attract and retain the best employees…”
Now, that entire section is gone. Users can only view it through internet archive tools like the Wayback Machine. In its place is the “WeAreTHD” page, which highlights associate culture and community support, without any explicit mention of diversity initiatives.
Why This Is Blowing Up
The timing isn’t lost on critics. The rollback follows closely on the heels of Trump’s promise to eliminate DEI programs at the federal level, calling them “unfair” and claiming they “divide Americans.”
“We will terminate every diversity, equity, and inclusion program across the entire federal government,” Trump declared during a recent rally, a comment that drew both praise and outrage.
That stance appears to be trickling into corporate boardrooms, especially among retail giants who rely on conservative shopper bases in red states.
Shoppers Are Not Happy
The backlash was swift. Social media erupted with angry responses.
- “Funny enough, those stores are all on my boycott list for enabling him, attacking DEI, and forcing so many of their workers to depend on food stamps,” one X user posted.
- “No money from me or mine,” another user replied.
Others accused the company of trying to dodge the fallout by removing the policy quietly, without any formal announcement.
“Historic times! I never would have expected Walmart to abandon DEI practices,” a user commented, pointing out the ripple effect across major chains.
What Home Depot Says Now
In a statement to Retail Brew, Home Depot spokesperson Sarah McDonald insisted the company still values an inclusive culture, just under different branding.
“We’re proud to have a culture that welcomes everyone,” she said. “We’ve been using ‘WeAreTHD,’ which is a slogan that represents the welcoming culture we’ve built here. We remain committed to our core values and the needs of our business.”
However, many pointed out the difference between lip service and real accountability. The absence of explicit DEI language is seen by some as a signal that the company is no longer actively prioritizing diversity in hiring and internal policy.
Walmart, Target… Who’s Next?
Walmart and Target, two of Home Depot’s biggest retail peers, also made similar site changes in recent months. Target pulled back on some of its Pride-themed merchandise following backlash last year, and Walmart scrubbed certain DEI references from its corporate pages, citing “site restructuring.”
This wave of corporate reversals seems to signal a new direction for big-box retailers: move quietly, appease conservative critics, and hope progressive customers won’t notice, or at least won’t take their dollars elsewhere.
Why It Matters
While companies aren’t legally bound to maintain DEI programs, their removal may carry both reputational and cultural costs. Many employees, especially those from underrepresented groups, view these initiatives as essential to fostering safe, inclusive workspaces. Cutting them could spark internal disengagement, affect recruitment, and diminish employee retention, especially among younger demographics who place a premium on social values.
Closing Thoughts
Whether it’s a political move, a PR calculation, or simply a case of “follow the leader,” Home Depot’s rollback is not going unnoticed. With mounting consumer skepticism and threats of boycotts, it’s clear that the decision, however quietly executed, has loud consequences.
For now, one thing is certain: the culture war is no longer just playing out on Capitol Hill. It’s happening right at your local hardware store.
