From DEI to DIY: How Home Depot Quietly Renovated Inclusion

Once proudly brandishing its commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion like a freshly unboxed cordless drill, Home Depot has taken a quieter, more power-sander-like approach to DEI. In what can only be described as a master class in corporate renovation, the hardware giant has replaced overt DEI language with friendlier, fuzzier phrases like “WeAreTHD”—which sounds less like a movement and more like a password you forget after resetting it twice.

The Curious Case of the Vanishing Web Page

In 2023, visitors to Home Depot’s website might have noticed something strange. The DEI section—once filled with smiling associates in orange aprons and statements about inclusivity—disappeared faster than a 2×4 during a hurricane warning. In its place now stands a warm and vague substitute: “WeAreTHD.” What does that mean? No one knows. Probably not even the person who renamed it.

This is part of a growing trend where corporations opt for linguistic feng shui—rearranging words to create the illusion of action. “Diversity” is now “people.” “Equity” has become “respect.” And “inclusion” is whatever’s left once the first two get rebranded.

A Drill Bit for Every Political Screw

Let’s be real. This isn’t just about marketing. After Trump publicly declared war on DEI with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, Home Depot took the hint (Retail Brew’s full exposé).

“Respect For All People” now headlines the 2025 Home Depot annual report. It’s a phrase so neutral it could be printed on a candle. Or a doormat. Or a political donation form.

Satirical Screwdriver: Assemble With Caution

Imagine walking into a Home Depot and asking where the “Equity Tools” aisle is. The associate, glancing nervously at their manager, hands you a level and whispers, “We don’t call them that anymore… try Aisle 17 under ‘spirit level.’” The message? You can still build an inclusive environment—you just can’t call it that.

Even their internal programs have been sanded down. Associate resource groups? Still around—kind of. DEI team? Downsized in 2023. Community Partnerships page? Gone faster than your patience during Black Friday in the lumber section.

Cultural Camouflage or Strategic Silence?

Home Depot’s rebranding is less a renovation and more a remodeling of public conscience. They didn’t remove DEI—they just repainted it, rearranged the furniture, and called it “modern.” But when the only hammer left in your social responsibility toolbox is labeled “Respect,” you might want to double-check whether anything is actually being built.

In the end, we’re left with a corporate culture that promises to include everyone—as long as no one uses words that make anyone uncomfortable. It’s like selling lumber but refusing to say the word “tree.”