While numerous organizations across the country are scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in response to pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration, the New York Yankees are standing firm—and they have no plans to change course.
According to a report published Tuesday by the New York Daily News, the Yankees remain quietly but firmly committed to their DEI efforts. “We are continually working with the members of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee and are actively engaged with our neighbors and community partners,” said Brian Smith, the team’s senior vice president of corporate and community relations, ahead of Jackie Robinson Day. “Our dedication toward these efforts remains unchanged, and our Diversity and Inclusion Committee continues to do its work.”
The Yankees established their DEI committee in February 2021, in the wake of national protests following the police killing of George Floyd. The committee’s work is guided by five core pillars: organizational diversity and inclusion, education, socioeconomic development, social responsibility, and health and wellness.
According to the team’s website, the committee consists of a diverse mix of Yankees employees, on-field staff, alumni, community leaders, and business partners. Sources told the Daily News that the team has not altered its hiring practices since Trump returned to office earlier this year.
However, not everyone is entirely at ease. One anonymous source, speaking personally rather than on behalf of the organization, expressed concern that the Yankees’ DEI efforts could attract negative attention from the Trump administration.
This concern comes amid a broader trend in Major League Baseball. In March, The Athletic and reporter Craig Calcaterra noted that the term “diversity” had been quietly removed from MLB’s official careers homepage. Additionally, information about the league’s once-prominent Diversity Pipeline Program—a key initiative aimed at addressing the lack of representation in front offices—has reportedly disappeared.
MLB has since responded with a statement, saying its values around diversity remain intact, though it is reviewing programs to ensure they comply with federal law. “As the commissioner stated, 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 compliance with federal law,” an MLB spokesperson told The Athletic.
The Daily News report comes just days after the Fort Worth Star-Telegram revealed that most MLB teams failed to respond when asked whether they would maintain their DEI initiatives moving forward.
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