In a significant policy shift following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Deloitte US has instructed employees working on government contracts to remove gender pronouns from their email signatures and is discontinuing its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Consultants at the Big Four firm’s government and public services division, comprising approximately 15,000 employees, were informed last week of the new directive. In an internal email, staff were asked to align with “emerging government client practices and requirements” by removing gender pronouns from external communications.
Additionally, Deloitte US announced on Monday that it would “sunset” its DEI goals, cease publishing an annual diversity and inclusion report, and discontinue DEI-related programming. These decisions come as companies reconsider their policies in response to the shifting US political landscape. Deloitte’s move follows Accenture’s recent decision to eliminate its global diversity goals and demographic-specific career programs.
This development aligns with an executive order issued by President Trump upon his return to office, instructing federal agencies to remove references to “gender ideology” from all official communications. The order also mandates that government agencies ensure federal funds are not used to promote gender ideology and that contract allocations reflect these principles. A White House official indicated that a review of federal contracts would be conducted to confirm compliance.
As part of the transition, Deloitte US provided employees with a revised email signature template, which must be implemented by February 7. The firm stated that its decision to phase out DEI programs followed “a detailed review of all pertinent government directives to ensure we comply.”
Previously, Deloitte US had outlined ambitious DEI targets for 2025, including a $200 million investment in Black-led businesses and increasing the diversity of its leadership. While the firm is eliminating formal DEI initiatives, it will continue to support some diversity-related efforts, such as heritage month events, internal ethnic networks, and inclusion councils. It also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining fair and non-discriminatory hiring practices.
In a message to employees, Deloitte US emphasized, “Everyone is welcome at Deloitte,” and urged staff to “please take care of each other.”
The firm confirmed that its guidance on email signatures applies to staff in its government and public services sector but declined to comment further on its DEI targets. A spokesperson stated, “As a US government contractor, we have a long-standing track record of compliance with new governmental requirements.”
