New executive orders aim to use the federal government’s purse strings to reshape the diversity practices of companies it does business with. But that isn’t all.

It bars the government from pushing contractors to diversify their workforce and taps federal agencies to use Civil Rights-era laws “to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies,

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order designed to eradicate workforce diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the federal government and the private sector. Trump suggested that some companies will face investigations and legal action if their programs are deemed to be discriminatory.

Following Trump's lead, organizations including Walmart, Lowe’s and Meta, have announced they would scale back their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

In addition to other efforts, the retailer will end a program focused on carrying more products from Black- or minority-owned businesses.

One of the country’s largest retailers said it will end the diversity, equity and inclusion goals it sets in three-year cycles and curtail racial equity initiatives.

Costco's shareholders overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that called for assessing the risk of keeping its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in place.

Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena has announced it is launching a 13.3 billion euro takeover bid for larger peer Mediobanca in a surprise move that could reshape the country’s banking sector

By Valentina Za and Gianluca Semeraro MILAN (Reuters) -State-backed Monte dei Paschi di Siena on Friday joined the consolidation wave sweeping Italian banking with a surprise 13.3 billion euro ($14 billion) all-share offer to buy merchant bank Mediobanca.