MLB removes 'diversity' from careers site amid Trump administration legal review
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LOS ANGELES - Major League Baseball is reviewing its diversity-related hiring programs and has removed references to "diversity" from its careers website following a recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump.
The move comes as organizations across the country evaluate their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs amid the administration’s stricter interpretation of civil rights law.
RELATED: Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI programs reinstated by appeals court
MLB confirmed the change on Friday, saying it is working to ensure its programs remain compliant with federal law while staying true to its longstanding values. The edits to its website were first reported by Cup of Coffee News.
Why MLB changed its diversity language
The backstory:
In January, President Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to enforce civil rights law in a way that could penalize organizations that use race- or identity-based criteria in hiring, education, or funding decisions.
In response, MLB removed the term "diversity" from its MLB Careers website and is currently reviewing the eligibility criteria of its various programs.
FILE - A baseball with MLB logo is seen at Citizens Bank Park before a game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies on June 28, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
"Our values on diversity remain unchanged," MLB said in a statement. "We are in the process of evaluating our programs for any modifications to eligibility criteria that are needed to ensure our programs are compliant with federal law as they continue forward."
How MLB leadership is responding to Trump’s executive order
What they're saying:
Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledged the ongoing review following a recent MLB owners meeting in Palm Beach, Florida. He said the league remains committed to diversity but must also remain in compliance with the law.
"Our values, particularly our values on diversity, remain unchanged," Manfred said. "But another value that is pretty important to us is we always try to comply with what the law is. There seems to be an evolution going on here."
Manfred added that MLB is closely watching how the federal interpretation of civil rights law unfolds: "When things get a little more settled, we’ll examine each of our programs and make sure that while the values remain the same that we’re also consistent with what the law requires."
What could happen next for DEI in pro sports
What's next:
MLB's decision to review its programs highlights the growing uncertainty facing DEI initiatives across industries. Other major organizations that receive federal contracts or funding could face similar scrutiny under the Trump administration’s evolving civil rights enforcement.
While MLB's DEI programs have not been publicly linked to federal enforcement actions so far, any program that uses demographic criteria in hiring or recruitment could come under review.
For now, MLB maintains its values have not changed—but how those values are implemented may continue to shift in response to federal policy.
The Source: This report is based on public statements from Major League Baseball and Commissioner Rob Manfred, as well as reporting by Cup of Coffee News, which first noted the changes to the MLB Careers website. Context on federal policy comes from recent executive orders and the Trump administration’s evolving interpretation of civil rights law.