• Fedex denounces siege, reviews political donation policy.
Fedex said it is reviewing all future political contributions and denounced the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in a statement Monday.
“Fedex has long supported candidates on both sides of the political aisle with the goal of promoting the interests of our organization, employees and customers,” the company said in a statement. “Multiple factors impact our decisions to support candidates, and we are reviewing all future political contributions. We condemn the violence that occurred in Washington, D.C., and fully support the results of the U.S. general election. We congratulate and look forward to working with the Biden administration on policy issues important to our company and our customers.”
The news comes after a riot at the U.S. Capitol that resulted in five deaths and dozens of injuries. House Democrats have moved forward with a new article of impeachment charging President Donald Trump with inciting an insurrection by falsely claiming the election was stolen from him and encouraging his supporters to storm the Capitol, USA TODAY reported.
Fedex did not elaborate further on how its political contributions could change following review.
The Memphis-based company, which employs nearly 600,000 people worldwide, has worked closely with the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping deliver protective gear, testing equipment and eventually vaccines. Vice President Mike Pence visited Memphis in December to hold a roundtable with Fedex executives and others discussing the Operation Warp Speed vaccine distribution effort.
This isn’t the first time Fedex has waded into political waters during Trump’s term. Chairman and CEO Fred Smith has previously criticized the Trump administration’s use of international trade barriers like tariffs. In 2019, Smith said the company was “profoundly disappointed” when the U.S. withdrew from the Trans-pacific Partnership trade deal.
In June, amid widespread protests against racism and police brutality, Smith and COO Raj Subramaniam wrote to employees that there “is absolutely no place for racism or unequal treatment anywhere, and we must unequivocally speak out and reject it when we see it.” “The recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and many others are devastating,” Smith and Subramaniam said. “The unrest across the nation and the grieving in our local communities are a reminder that we all must keep doing more to create meaningful change and healing.”
Since 1996, contributions through the Fedex PAC have favored Republican candidates, although the contribution gap between the two parties slimmed last year. It donated $534,000 to Republican candidates for the 2020 election cycle, versus $448,000 for Democrat candidates, per Opensecrets.org.
In October, The Commercial Appeal reported Smith and wife Diane Smith gave nearly $300,000 combined to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and to funds supporting Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell of Kentucky and Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa.
Fedex isn’t the only company to be reevaluating its political contributions. Major companies including Citi, Bank of America, Ford, AT&T, Exxonmobil and Target are also reviewing the contributions it makes, according to Newsweek.
A spokesperson for UPS said the company has suspended all PAC contributions for now. The Fedex rival denounced the Capitol riot in a statement Thursday.
“We are appalled by the lawlessness and violence that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol and strongly condemn the actions of those individuals who participated in the illegal activities that destroyed property and cost lives,” CEO Carol Tomé said in a statement. “We must peacefully and constructively find ways to advance the common good of our country within the bounds of our Constitutional framework and through the peaceful transition of power.”
Max Garland covers Fedex, logistics and health care for The Commercial Appeal. Reach him at max.garland@commercialappeal.com or 901-529-2651 and on Twitter @Maxgarlandtypes.