IBM Accused of Axing Black Executives After Trump DEI Orders (1)

A former IBM vice president accused the technology company of illegal race discrimination by firing Black executives to appease the Trump administration in the wake of its anti-DEI efforts.

Annette Brooks alleged in her lawsuit Monday that International Business Machines Corp. fired five of its seven Black executives soon after the administration rolled out directives opposing diversity, equity , and inclusion initiatives.

Brooks said she was one of three Black vice presidents at IBM—all of whom got the ax at the same time.

The allegations that IBM purged the company of most of its Black executives echo accusations of racially motivated firings levied against the Trump administration, which the White House has denied.

An IBM spokesperson called the lawsuit baseless, saying race played no part in the decision to end Brooks’ employment with the company.

“Discrimination of any kind is not tolerated by IBM and is entirely inconsistent with our culture and values,” Miki Carver said in the statement.

Brooks claimed that IBM’s race-based terminations to satisfy the Trump administration were part of an effort to remain favored by the Defense Department and other agencies with large contracts with the company.

She filed her lawsuit alleging violations of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Brooks, who worked at IBM for 26 years before her termination last year, also accused the company of preferential treatment of South Asian employees over Black employees.

She’s represented by the Law Office of Laura Wong-Pan PLLC.

The case is Brooks v. IBM Corp., S.D.N.Y., No. 26-03664, complaint filed 5/4/26.