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Technology giants, including Google and Meta, that previously made broad commitments to increasing diversity at various levels throughout their companies, drastically reduced the number of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in 2023.

According to a new report from CNBC, DEI programs were downsized by as much as 90% at a myriad of technology conglomerates around the country, despite several companies advertising a “diverse” workforce as a core company value.

CNBC reported that according to data provided by Indeed, an online job recruiting platform, by mid-2023 “DEI-related job postings had declined 44% from the same time a year prior.” In contrast, DEI-related job postings increased by nearly 30% from 2020 to 2021, the outlet notes.

In the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) riots, occurring as a result of George Floyd’s death, several large corporations resolved to ramp up DEI hiring initiatives and programs, and pledged millions of dollars to programs and nonprofit organizations purportedly promoting “equity.”

“When George Floyd began to become the topic of conversations, companies and executives doubled down on their commitments and here we are only a couple years later, and folks are looking for opportunities to cut those teams,” Devika Brij, CEO of Brij the Gap Consulting, told CNBC.

Brij explained that the steady economic downturn has affected third-party consulting firms providing DEI and sensitivity training to large corporations, stating, “Right now with these budgets being entirely limited or cut, we’re just really backpedaling on so much of the work that we’ve done.”

At the height of the events of 2020, Google vocally committed to increasing the minority representation in leadership positions by 30% by the year 2025. Google CEO Sundar Pichai said at the time that the company’s goal was to “build sustainable equity for Google’s Black+ community, and externally, to make our products and programs helpful in the moments that matter most to Black users.”

The Post Millennial reported that Google’s “Early Career Immersion” program, developed in 2021 and created to support “people from marginalized backgrounds,” has now cleaned house, leaving all positions vacant. “Meta’s entire Sourcer Development Program workforce was fired, as well,” the outlet added. Other such programs at various tech corporations were also downsized last year.

The CNBC report also warned that more than just “broken promises” are at stake — and that the downsizing of DEI programs will spell disaster for a technological future driven by artificial intelligence (AI). “If diverse people are not included in AI development, that may result in even greater power imbalances for both corporate workers, as well as consumers who will use their products.” the outlet cautioned.

This warning was followed by several statements provided to CNBC re-affirming tech giants’ commitment to hiring a diverse workforce and promoting equity, despite the numerous program cuts.

A Meta spokesperson told CNBC in a written statement that leadership’s “commitment to DEI remains at the center of who we are as a company.” The spokesperson added, “We continue to intentionally design equitable and fair practices to drive progress across our people, product, policy and partnerships pillars.”

Conservative legal organizations have threatened lawsuits against several large corporations including BlackRock, JPMorgan, American Airlines, and others over divisive hiring practices, which has also caused numerous companies to backtrack on DEI hiring commitments.