MLB Pulls 'Diversity' from Careers Page Following Trump-Driven DEI Rollback

Major League Baseball (MLB) has quietly removed references to "diversity" from its careers page, appearing to align with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the private sector.

The rollback comes after Trump issued directives for federal agencies to combat DEI practices, extending their reach into private enterprises. The independent website Cup of Coffee News first broke the story, reporting the removal of these references last Friday.

In a statement, MLB clarified its stance: "Our values on diversity remain unchanged. We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward." Despite this, the careers page still features mentions of inclusion and shows images of gay pride flags, signaling that MLB isn’t entirely stepping away from its broader inclusion efforts.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, who launched a Diversity Pipeline Program in 2016 that led to over 400 assisted hires, reiterated the league’s commitment to diversity while acknowledging the legal landscape. "Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged. But another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is," Manfred stated after a recent owners meeting in Florida.

This legal compliance follows an October 2023 civil rights complaint filed by America First Legal, a conservative nonprofit, accusing MLB of racially discriminatory practices through programs like the Diversity Pipeline Program and the Diversity Fellowship Program. The complaint also flagged at least four employment and contracting initiatives it deemed unlawful under federal anti-discrimination laws.

Trump’s executive orders, including one issued on his first day back in office, aim to restore what his administration calls "meritocracy" by removing DEI-related language and practices from federal contracting and hiring processes. The General Services Administration (GSA) has already updated Federal Acquisition Regulations to align with these orders, signaling a broader shift across industries.

Manfred acknowledged this evolving situation, stating, "Obviously, when things get a little more settled, we’ll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same, we’re also consistent with what the law requires."

The MLB’s balancing act between maintaining its diversity values and adhering to federal mandates highlights the increasingly complex intersection of politics and corporate policy. For now, the league appears to be treading carefully, removing specific language while keeping some of its inclusive imagery intact.