Target’s decision to pull back on its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments comes with a price tag, not just to its public image.

In the first quarter of 2025, the retailer reported a 3.8% drop in comparable sales and a 2.8% year-over-year revenue decline to $23.8 billion. Once hailed as a corporate leader in inclusive practices, Target has recently shuttered key DEI initiatives like its REACH program and has rebranded Supplier Diversity, moves that many viewed as a retreat under political pressure.

The fallout was immediate: consumers pushed back, boycotts erupted, and trust eroded.

Target, which had once pledged over $2 billion to Black-owned businesses, is now forecasting a full-year sales decline after initially projecting growth.

The company’s CEO, Brian Cornell, repor

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