UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest health insurance companies in the US, has quietly removed significant portions of its website related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, TechCrunch has discovered. The move has raised questions about the company's commitment to these initiatives and whether it signals a shift in its policies or simply a change in verbiage.

Archived copies of UnitedHealth's website reveal that several web pages dedicated to DEI no longer load and now redirect to a "page not found" error. A section of the company's career page that previously featured a dedicated section for diversity, equity, and inclusion, along with its diversity initiatives, has also been removed. Furthermore, a 2022 blog post featuring a conversation with the company's vice president of DEI has been taken down.

UnitedHealth's spokesperson, Tyler Mason, did not return requests for comment, leaving the motivations behind the removal of DEI content unclear. However, the move coincides with a broader trend of companies retreating from DEI policies and programs amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration.

In February, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi instructed the Justice Department to "investigate, eliminate, and penalize" DEI programs that it considers illegal at private sector companies that receive federal funding. A federal appeals court temporarily allowed the Trump administration to press ahead, despite a lower court ruling the government's efforts unlawful. As a result, several tech companies, including Google and OpenAI, have already removed mentions of DEI from their websites.

TechCrunch observed UnitedHealth take down its web pages mentioning DEI in real-time on Wednesday morning, using a web page monitor to track changes to the company's website. The monitor was set up following a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare last year.

In place of the removed DEI content, UnitedHealth has added a slimmed-down page titled "Culture of Belonging," which features weaker language and omits previous references to the company's diversity efforts on university campuses, diversity in recruiting, and its various employee resource groups. The move has sparked concerns about the company's commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The implications of UnitedHealth's decision are far-reaching, as it sets a precedent for other companies to follow suit. The removal of DEI policies from corporate websites may signal a broader shift away from promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace, which could have significant consequences for employees and customers alike.

As the tech industry continues to grapple with the challenges of promoting diversity and inclusion, UnitedHealth's decision serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle to create a more equitable and just workplace. The move also raises questions about the role of government pressure in shaping corporate policies and the potential consequences for employees and customers.

In conclusion, UnitedHealth Group's removal of DEI policies from its website marks a significant development in the ongoing debate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. As the tech industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how companies will balance the need to promote diversity and inclusion with the pressure to conform to government policies.