As corporations and governments reconsider their support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, many are scaling back their support for Juneteenth celebrations.

Juneteenth, declared a federal holiday by Joe Biden in 2021, celebrates the end of slavery in America, when the last enslaved people were alerted of their freedom on June 19, 1865. After widespread pushback against DEI programs, fewer companies and governments are opting to celebrate the holiday. (RELATED: Trump’s Crackdown Sends Corporate Diversity Jobs Plummeting, New Data Reveals)

In Denver, for example, over a dozen companies pulled support from the two-day-long Juneteenth Music Festival, requiring the celebration to be scaled back to one day of events. 

“There were quite a few sponsors who pulled back their investments or let us know they couldn’t or wouldn’t be in a position to support this year,” Norman Harris, the festival’s lead organizer, told the Associated Press. 

A Juneteenth flag flies on a float during the 45th annual Juneteenth National Independence Day celebrations in Galveston, Texas, on June 15, 2024. Juneteenth falls on June 19 and has often been celebrated on the third Saturday in June, to mark the end of slavery in the US. (Photo by Mark Felix / AFP) (Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images)

USA Today reported that 15% of organizations in a recent Paradigm study said they would stop celebrating identity and heritage related events amid backlash from the Trump administration against DEI initiatives. (RELATED: Plurality Of Voters Support Eliminating DEI Programs Amid Trump’s Crackdown)

Companies are not the only ones who have scaled back their support for Juneteenth. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey announced that state employees will not have a paid day off for Thursday’s holiday, citing budget concerns, according to WOWK 13 News.

“Due to the continued fiscal challenges facing West Virginia, state government will not be sponsoring any formal activities,” deputy press secretary Drew Galang said in an email, according to WOWK 13 News.

Scottsdale, Arizona, also did away with state-sponsored Juneteenth celebrations after abolishing its DEI office this February.

The Pentagon also paused observances of Juneteenth, as well as other cultural holidays, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency memo obtained by the Associated Press.

The rollback of corporate and governmental support for Juneteenth celebrations comes as major brands abandon DEI. After many major companies ceased their support for pride events and parades, they appear to be backing away from other DEI-related celebrations as well.