Wireless carrier T-Mobile US announced Wednesday it is terminating its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, responding to pressure from the Trump administration as it seeks regulatory approval for two significant transactions.
In a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, made public Wednesday, T-Mobile stated it is ending its DEI-related policies “not just in name, but in substance.”
The company confirmed it will eliminate all individual roles and teams dedicated to DEI, remove references to DEI from its websites, and delete DEI content from employee training materials.
Carr expressed approval of the changes, saying in a text message, “This is another good step forward for equal opportunity, nondiscrimination and the public interest.”
T-Mobile is awaiting FCC approval to acquire nearly all of regional carrier United States Cellular’s wireless operations—including customers, stores, and 30% of its spectrum assets—in a deal valued at $4.4 billion.
Separately, the FCC is reviewing T-Mobile’s proposed joint venture with KKR to purchase internet service provider Metronet, which serves over 2 million homes and businesses across 17 states. T-Mobile plans to invest about $4.9 billion at closing to acquire a 50% equity stake in the venture and 100% ownership of Metronet’s residential fiber retail operations and customers.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, criticized T-Mobile’s move, stating, “In yet another cynical bid to win FCC regulatory approval, T-Mobile is making a mockery of its professed commitment to eliminating discrimination, promoting fairness, and amplifying underrepresented voices.”
The FCC previously approved Verizon Communications’ $20 billion purchase of fiber-optic internet provider Frontier Communications in May, after Verizon agreed to end its DEI program amid an FCC investigation.
Carr, appointed FCC chair by Trump in January, also opened a probe into Comcast’s promotion of DEI programs earlier this year.
In January, Trump issued broad executive orders to dismantle U.S. government DEI initiatives and urged the private sector to follow suit.
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