Mark Zuckerberg is adjusting his principles to match the changing political winds. Back in 2013, the Meta CEO co-founded FWD.us, an advocacy group dedicated to fixing the immigration system. For over a decade, he has argued for citizenship pathways for talented workers and has provided massive financial backing. But now, with Donald Trump back in the White House for a second term, Zuckerberg is officially walking away.
His philanthropy organization, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), completely cut financial ties with FWD.us this year. Since 2013, CZI has provided roughly half of the group’s $400 million in total donations. That funding has dropped to zero. Making the separation even clearer, CZI’s chief of staff, Jordan Fox, resigned from the FWD.us board, leaving the seat empty.
A CZI spokesperson claims this decision isn’t about politics. She stated the group decided five years ago to shift its focus toward science and education projects, such as its Biohub. However, the timing suggests otherwise. Late in 2024, Zuckerberg met with Trump adviser Stephen Miller, a hardliner on immigration, who reportedly questioned the tech CEO about his connection to the advocacy group.
Since that meeting, Zuckerberg’s companies have made sharp turns that align with the new administration’s preferences. In January, Meta scrapped its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, citing a changing legal landscape. The company also dropped third-party fact-checkers and updated policies to allow harsher language regarding immigration and LGBTQ+ topics. To top it off, Meta added Trump ally Dana White to its board.
Zuckerberg’s public statements have shifted in step with his policies. In 2013, he called the lack of opportunity for immigrant children “one of the biggest civil rights issues of our time.” In January 2025, he struck a completely different chord. During an investor call, he praised the Trump administration for “prioritizing American technology” and defending American values, expressing optimism for the year ahead.
Despite losing its most famous backer, FWD.us plans to keep going. President Todd Schulte says new donors have stepped up to fill the gap, allowing the group to continue fighting for criminal justice reform and immigrant rights, even without Zuckerberg’s checkbook.
