Missouri AG accuses Starbucks of ‘race-and-sex-based’ discrimination in lawsuit – Washington Examiner
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has filed a lawsuit against Starbucks, accusing the company of “race-and-sex-based” discrimination in its hiring practices linked to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In the lawsuit,Bailey cites a recent Supreme Court decision which ruled that federal law prohibits discrimination based on race,arguing that Starbucks has implemented practices that violate this principle by mandating certain demographic hiring goals. The lawsuit claims that such policies have resulted in adverse effects for customers, including increased prices and longer wait times.
Starbucks is accused of attempting to meet specific DEI targets, such as having 40% of retail positions held by people of color and 55% by women by 2025, labeling these targets as “aspirational” in later statements to soften their implications. A Starbucks spokesperson disputed the claims, asserting that the company’s hiring practices are lawful, inclusive, and designed to ensure the strongest candidates are selected. The lawsuit occurs in a broader context where several companies are reconsidering their DEI policies following a trend of backlash against such initiatives. Notably, public figures, including Elon Musk, have expressed support for Bailey’s actions.
Missouri AG accuses Starbucks of ‘race-and-sex-based’ discrimination in lawsuit
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against Starbucks over its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, saying the chain utilizes “race-and-sex-based” discrimination.
Bailey’s lawsuit said that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that federal law does not allow “differential treatment based on race,” referencing the court’s decision against affirmative action in admissions decisions at colleges. However, the attorney general said in his lawsuit that the coffee chain opted to require “outright race- and sex-based discrimination” in its hiring practices, claiming that this led customers to pay more and experience longer wait times for their coffee.
“Just two years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that federal law prohibits discrimination based on race,” Bailey wrote on X. “This principle applies not only to college admissions but also to employment decisions. Starbucks enforces race-and-sex-based hiring practices, unlawfully segregates employees, and provides exclusive training and employment benefits to select groups in violation of anti-discrimination laws.”
Just two years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that federal law prohibits discrimination based on race.
This principle applies not only to college admissions but also to employment decisions.
— Attorney General Andrew Bailey (@AGAndrewBailey) February 11, 2025
The lawsuit said that one of Starbucks’s DEI goals in 2021 was to have 40% of its retail roles held by black, Indigenous, and people of color and 55% of these roles held by women by 2025 in the United States. The coffee chain opted to “soften” the language of its goals in 2023 “as merely ‘aspirational,’” but these goals were nonetheless “based on unlawful bases,” according to the lawsuit.
Starbucks pushed back against the accusations, with a spokesperson calling the allegations “inaccurate.”
“We disagree with the attorney general and these allegations are inaccurate,” the spokesperson said. “We are deeply committed to creating opportunity for every single one of our partners (employees). Our programs and benefits are open to everyone and lawful. Our hiring practices are inclusive fair and competitive and designed to ensure the strongest candidate for every job every time.”
X owner Elon Musk, meanwhile, applauded Bailey’s lawsuit, writing “great!” in a reply to the attorney general’s comment on X.
Great!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 11, 2025
Bailey’s lawsuit targeting DEI comes as many other retailers opt to drop DEI practices, with Google being the most recent. Other retailers that took similar action include Target, Walmart, McDonald’s, and Tractor Supply Company.
President Donald Trump, shortly after his second inauguration, signed an executive order aimed at eliminating all DEI initiatives within the federal government. Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) have since introduced a bill to enshrine Trump’s order.
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