A new approach to hiring is gaining traction across corporate America, challenging long-standing DEI initiatives: Merit, Excellence, and Intelligence.

Companies in the U.S. were already backing off on DEI, then Walmart entered the chat: This week the retail giant said it would cut back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Why it matters: Walmart is the largest private employer in the country,

Walmart CEO John Furner confirmed the retail giant would be rolling back its DEI programs, including reviewing grants and ditching the term "DEI" altogether.

As the nation's largest retailer and private company employer, Walmart's reversal of DEI policies has important implications for all retailers and corporations.

Walmart is the latest company to make changes to its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives under pressure from a conservative activist.

John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S., talks about the company's decision to scale back its DEI policies.

Walmart has become the largest private company to announce it will be rolling back on promoting diversity initiatives.

It’s the latest company to backtrack on diversity initiatives in the face of right-wing pressure, and its decisions will reverberate across corporate America. The company said Monday it is ending racial equity training programs for staff and evaluating programs designed to increase supplier diversity.

The world’s largest retailer joins a growing list of major corporations that have rolled back diversity programs after coming under attack by conservative activists.