Google removes over 50 DEI groups from a list of groups it helps fund

In a significant shift, Google has eliminated more than 50 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) organizations from its funding roster, as revealed by a recent report from a watchdog group and reported by CNBC. This update pertains to Google's 2024 list of groups that receive substantial support from its U.S. Government Affairs and Public Policy team. Notably absent from the revised list are 58 DEI groups, including prominent organizations such as the Latino Leadership Alliance and the ACLU of Illinois. The removal of these names comes in the context of increased scrutiny from the Trump administration, which has expressed intentions to target companies that openly endorse DEI initiatives. Despite the cuts, it remains uncertain whether Google continues to offer discreet support to these organizations. Over the past year, Google has made several notable changes to its policies, including the decision to no longer set specific diversity hiring targets. The company has also modified its grant website to exclude references to "underrepresented" groups and has removed mentions of "diversity" and "equity" from its responsible AI webpage. Additionally, the term DEI has been omitted from Google’s 10-K filings this year. The organizations that have been removed from Google's funding list often included mission statements that referenced terms such as "race" and "women," which have been advised against by the Trump administration for federal agencies to avoid in their communications, according to the report.