March 14 (Reuters) - Kohl's on Friday changed

the title of its chief DEI officer and broadened its supplier

diversity program in response to President Donald Trump's push

to dismantle the practice in the federal government and private

sector.

"We have evolved our framework to focus on inclusion and

belonging," said Michelle Banks, whose title changed from chief

DEI officer to chief inclusion and belonging officer.

The department store is the latest U.S. company to join the

likes of Target and Pfizer to take steps in changing policies

related to DEI program after Trump urged the private sector to

end "illegal DEI discrimination and preferences".

Banks, who joined Kohl's in 2010, was named the DEI chief in

2021 when the company created the role to support diversity,

equity and inclusion policies.

The company is also adding qualified small businesses,

including diverse small businesses, Banks told Reuters.

Bloomberg first reported the news on Friday and said Kohl's

has removed references to DEI from its website, replacing it

with words inclusion and belonging.

(Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by

Arun Koyyur)