Congressional Black Caucus Pressures Target CEO For Tangible Results On DEI Amid Continued Boycott

Target boycott efforts are intensifying as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) steps up its push for corporate accountability.

CBC Chairwoman Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) and members of the caucus’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force recently met with Target CEO Brian Cornell, according to a press release from the Caucus. The meeting focused on the company’s rollback of DEI commitments, especially those affecting Black-owned businesses.

Lawmakers Say Target’s Explanations “Fell Woefully Short”

The CBC described the conversation with Cornell as “candid and direct,” but ultimately stated that members were left disappointed.

“The Congressional Black Caucus met with the leadership of the Target Corporation on Capitol Hill to directly address deep concerns about the impact of the company’s unconscionable decision to end a number of its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts,” Clarke said in a lengthy statement in the press release.

“Like many of the coalition leaders and partner organizations that have chosen to boycott their stores across the country, we found that the explanations offered by the leadership of the Target Corporation fell woefully short of what our communities deserve and of the values of inclusion that Target once touted.”

Clarke added that the Black community adds tremendous value to the U.S. economy, as well as Target’s bottom line and they “deserve to shop at businesses that publicly share [their] values without sacrificing [their] dignity.”

“It is no longer acceptable to deliver promises to our communities in private without also demonstrating those values publicly,“ she said in the statement. 

Target, once praised for its DEI initiatives, has seen backlash in recent months after quietly pulling back on those efforts. The company has acknowledged during investor calls that the ongoing boycott has contributed to declining sales and eroding consumer trust.

In a memo to staff, Cornell attempted to reassure employees and restore confidence. But as Forbes reported, the message may have backfired, further highlighting the disconnect between leadership and public expectations.

CBC Issues Four Demands For Rebuilding Trust

“In addition to highlighting the significant financial toll Target has already taken due to its failure to uphold its commitments to diversity, we warned that efforts to restore consumer and public trust without genuine action and accountability would risk inflicting lasting damage to the company’s brand and credibility,“ the Caucus said in the press release. 

The CBC outlined four key actions Target must take to regain the trust of Black communities:

• Publicly recommit to DEI values
• Reinstate diversity and inclusion initiatives that were rolled back
• Provide transparency on previous DEI-related financial investments
• Disclose workforce demographics, supplier diversity stats, and community investment data

DEI Rollbacks Reflect A Wider Corporate Shift

These actions are part of a broader push for corporate transparency.

In September 2024, the CBC published “What Good Looks Like: A Corporate Accountability Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.“ It evaluated Fortune 500 companies on the racial justice pledges many made in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.

The report called out companies that made public commitments during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement but have since reversed course. Many cited political pressure following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision limiting race-based affirmative action in college admissions.

Although the Biden administration clarified that the ruling doesn’t apply to corporate DEI programs, companies like Walmart, McDonald’s and Meta began scaling back their diversity programs anyway.

As the Target boycott continues, the CBC says it will continue to push for real, measurable change. With pressure growing from consumers and lawmakers, Target’s next steps could determine whether it regains public trust or continues to lose ground.