Change of plans at T-Mobile: Americans have been left stunned

T-Mobile has made a decision that has surprised many and confirmed what others already feared. The company has announced that they will completely eliminate their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, also known as DEI. They are doing so after pressure from President Donald Trump's administration, as reported by various media outlets.

This measure comes at a time when T-Mobile is seeking approval from regulators to complete two major acquisitions. The company wants to expand its presence by purchasing US Cellular's wireless operations and Internet provider Metronet. To achieve this, it needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a key agency that oversees these types of moves.

In a letter sent to the FCC on July 8, T-Mobile explained that they will not only rename their DEI policies, but will eliminate them entirely. In their own words, the company acknowledges that the legal and political framework surrounding these programs has changed drastically at the federal level. This change in direction is a response to that new reality.

Radical change from T-Mobile

As part of the transformation, T-Mobile has dissolved the teams responsible for managing diversity policies. They have also removed any mention of these initiatives from their websites and internal materials. In addition, they have chosen to open all training and professional development programs to any employee, with no filters or preferences.

Brendan Carr, FCC commissioner and member of the Republican Party, welcomed this decision. He described it as a significant step forward in terms of equal opportunity and non-discrimination.

Carr has been a staunch opponent of DEI policies. He warned that he will not support business deals from companies that keep programs that, according to him, may foster discrimination.

In fact, this is not the first time a company has taken this path. In May, Verizon received the green light to close a $20 billion deal to acquire Frontier Communications. But only after committing to get rid of their DEI policies, complying with conditions imposed by the Trump administration.

Since Trump's return to power, pressure has increased on the private sector to abandon any initiative related to diversity or equity. The president has been clear: companies that keep DEI policies could lose their federal contracts or face regulatory obstacles.

A controversial decision

T-Mobile's case is not isolated, but it does represent a significant change for many people. Some celebrate this decision as a step toward equality without distinctions. However, others see it as a worrying sign that initiatives aimed at opening opportunities to historically marginalized groups are being dismantled.

In any case, T-Mobile's shift confirms what many already suspected. To keep growing in a changing political environment, companies are setting aside commitments they once strongly defended.