July 9 (Reuters) - Wireless carrier T-Mobile US ( TMUS )

said on Wednesday it is ending its diversity, equity and

inclusion programs, under pressure from the Trump administration

as it seeks regulatory approval for two major deals.

T-Mobile said in a letter to Federal Communications

Commission Chair Brendan Carr made public on Wednesday that the

wireless company is ending its DEI-related policies "not just in

name, but in substance."

T-Mobile said it will no longer have any individual roles or

teams focused on DEI, is removing any references to DEI on its

websites and has removed references to DEI from its employee

training materials.

Carr said in a text message he was pleased with the changes.

"This is another good step forward for equal opportunity,

nondiscrimination and the public interest."

T-Mobile is awaiting FCC approval to buy almost all of

regional carrier United States Cellular's ( USM ) wireless

operations including customers, stores and 30% of its spectrum

assets in a deal valued at $4.4 billion.

The FCC is also weighing a separate transaction in which

T-Mobile would establish a joint venture with KKR to

acquire internet service provider Metronet, which reaches more

than 2 million homes and businesses in 17 states.

T-Mobile plans at closing to invest about $4.9 billion

to acquire a 50% equity stake in the joint venture and 100% of

Metronet's residential fiber retail operations and customers.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, criticized

T-Mobile's action saying "in yet another cynical bid to win FCC

regulatory approval, T-Mobile is making a mockery of its

professed commitment to eliminating discrimination, promoting

fairness, and amplifying underrepresented voices."

The FCC

in May approved Verizon Communications' ( VZ )

$20 billion deal to acquire fiber-optic internet

providers Frontier Communications after the largest

U.S. telecom company agreed to end its DEI program and after the

FCC opened an investigation.

Carr, a Republican designated by Trump in January as

chair, told Comcast ( CMCSA ) in February he was

opening a probe into the NBC News-parent company's

promotion of DEI programs.

In January, Trump issued sweeping executive orders to

dismantle U.S. government DEI programs, and pressured the

private sector to join the initiative.