New executive orders aim to use the federal government’s purse strings to reshape the diversity practices of companies it does business with. But that isn’t all.

It bars the government from pushing contractors to diversify their workforce and taps federal agencies to use Civil Rights-era laws “to combat illegal private-sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies,

Yes, EO 11246 was amended in 2014 by President Barack Obama to add sexual orientation and gender identity to prohibited grounds for discrimination. But Trump didn’t bother to amend the amendment to return to the earlier language; he struck down the order entirely and replaced it with the abovementioned injunction to destroy DEI policies.

President Trump’s plan to unravel diversity, equity and inclusion efforts began taking shape on Wednesday with an order closing such programs within federal agencies and placing all staff working on those programs on paid leave.

Trump's Office of Personnel Management ordered all federal employees in DEI roles to be placed on leave by Wednesday evening.

Most ominously for corporate America, perhaps, Trump also directed all federal agencies to create a list of nine private sector companies whose diversity, equity, and inclusion programs should be investigated as potentially illegal.

Several U.S. companies like Meta and Walmart cut back DEI initiatives before President Trump's executive order removed federal DEI programs.

Costco shareholders rejected a proposal to evaluate any risks posed by its diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

Costco's stance in support of DEI contrasts with the positions taken by other big consumer brands, including Walmart and McDonald's.

Italian bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena has announced it is launching a 13.3 billion euro takeover bid for larger peer Mediobanca in a surprise move that could reshape the country’s banking sector

Monte dei Paschi di Siena has launched a 13.3 billion euro ($14 billion) all-share buyout offer for merchant bank Mediobanca, just over seven years after Italy rescued the Tuscan bank to avert a wider crisis.

Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA made a surprise offer to acquire larger rival Mediobanca SpA in a deal valued at €13.3 billion ($13.9 billion), adding a new twist in a series of takeover attempts that are shaking up Italy’s banking industry.