Google Quietly Cuts Funding to Over 50 Diversity Groups — Here's What We Know
📷 Image source: techcrunch.com
The Purge No One Saw Coming
How Google quietly axed DEI funding overnight
Last Tuesday, Google wiped over 50 diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) groups from its internal funding portal without so much as a press release. The move, first spotted by employees combing through the company’s internal resources, sent shockwaves through the tech giant’s workforce. These weren’t fringe organizations—many were employee resource groups (ERGs) like the Black Googler Network and Women@Google, which had relied on company funding for years.
Sources inside Google describe the cuts as sudden and unexplained. 'One day they were there, the next day—gone,' said a senior engineer who asked to remain anonymous. 'No email, no all-hands explanation. Just silence.' The lack of transparency has left employees scrambling, with some ERG leaders reportedly learning about the funding cuts from their teams rather than management.
The Backstory Behind the Cuts
A shift in priorities—or something darker?
Google’s relationship with DEI initiatives has been rocky since at least 2023, when the company quietly disbanded its AI ethics team following internal clashes over bias in algorithms. But this latest move feels different. It’s not just about restructuring—it’s a wholesale retreat from public commitments. In 2021, Google pledged $175 million to 'advance racial equity' after the murder of George Floyd. Now, insiders say that budget has been quietly reallocated to 'general corporate initiatives.'
The timing is suspicious, too. The cuts come just weeks after a leaked memo from a high-ranking VP suggested DEI programs were 'distracting from core business objectives.' That memo, obtained by TechCrunch, argued that Google should 'focus on merit, not metrics'—a phrase that’s become a dog whistle for anti-DEI sentiment in Silicon Valley. Whether this is a cost-cutting measure or an ideological shift remains unclear, but the impact is real: at least 12 ERGs have already canceled upcoming events due to lack of funding.
Who’s Left Holding the Bag?
Employees and activists react to the fallout
For Google’s ERGs, the funding cuts aren’t just symbolic—they’re existential. Many of these groups relied on company money to host career development workshops, mentorship programs, and even hackathons aimed at underrepresented talent. 'This isn’t about free bagels at meetings,' said Marisol Hernández, a Latina engineer and former lead of HOLA@Google. 'We used that funding to sponsor internships for first-gen college students. Now what?'
The backlash isn’t limited to Google’s walls. Advocacy groups like Color of Change and the Tech Workers Coalition have called for boycotts of Google products, while recruiters at rival companies are already poaching disillusioned employees. 'I’ve gotten three LinkedIn messages today alone,' laughed one Black Googler, who didn’t sound amused. 'They all say the same thing: ‘We still care about DEI here.’'
What This Means for Big Tech
A bellwether moment for Silicon Valley
Google’s move didn’t happen in a vacuum. Over the past year, Meta slashed its DEI budget by 40%, while Tesla dissolved its entire DEI team in January. But Google’s decision stands out because of its scale—and its stealth. Unlike Elon Musk’s loud anti-DEI tweets, this was a surgical strike, executed with the kind of precision you’d expect from a company that tracks every click.
The big question now: Is this the end of corporate DEI, or just a recalibration? Some analysts argue that companies are simply shifting from performative activism to 'quiet diversity'—hiring inclusively without fanfare. Others see something darker. 'When the economy tightens, diversity programs are always first on the chopping block,' said Dr. Keisha Brown, a Stanford sociologist who studies tech culture. 'But cutting ERG funding isn’t just cruel—it’s stupid. Study after study shows diverse teams build better products.'
One thing’s certain: The engineers, designers, and yes, even the executives who relied on these groups are watching closely. And for the first time in years, many are asking whether Silicon Valley’s 'change the world' mantra was ever meant to include everyone.
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