The New York Times published a story on January 17th, headlined: “D.E.I. on the Ropes Ahead of the Next Trump Era: Corporate policies concerning diversity, equity and inclusion, already under pressure from conservatives, are facing greater threats from allies of the president-elect.”
What the Times and other media outlets are largely neglecting to report is that far more corporations are standing strong on their DEI initiatives than the handful that are caving to pressure ahead of the next Trump era.
Examples of Companies Standing Firm
As an example, Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest healthcare conglomerates, posted on Linkedin Friday, recruiting for a Global DEI Insights & Engagement Leader. J&J is unequivocal about its commitment to DEI, writing in its job description:
“For more than 130 years, diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) has been a part of our cultural fabric at Johnson & Johnson and woven into how we do business every day. Rooted in Our Credo, the values of DEI fuel our pursuit to create a healthier, more equitable world. Our diverse workforce and culture of belonging accelerate innovation to solve the world’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
“We know that the success of our business – and our ability to deliver meaningful solutions – depends on how well we understand and meet the diverse needs of the communities we serve. Which is why we foster a culture of inclusion and belonging where all perspectives, abilities and experiences are valued and our people can reach their potential.”
In its reporting, the Times named three corporate giants that have scaled back or ended their DEI initiatives: Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads), Amazon, and McDonald’s. But the fast food company has repeatedly refuted claims that they’ve scaled back their DEI initiatives.
McDonald’s Executive Vice President, Global Chief Legal Officer Desiree Ralls-Morrison posted on Linkedin:
“I’m really proud of the work we do at McDonald’s around diversity and inclusion. I know our recent news disappointed some people, but I suspect that’s because they didn’t read our Leadership Message themselves. They likely only read the media reports, which overwhelmingly got it wrong. I encourage you to read our statement, which can be found on our corporate website, yourself. Doug Melville in this Forbes article got it right, but as a black woman who is a leader at the company, I can say unequivocally – we are proud of our incredible accomplishments in this space and excited to continue our inclusion journey. Our commitment to inclusion is steadfast.”
Litigation and Resilience in DEI Policies
Days after McDonald’s made a statement about its commitment to inclusion, the fast food company was sued over its long-running program offering scholarships to Latino and Hispanic students. Edward Blum, career litigant, who has worked for decades to overturn affirmative action, brought the suit against McDonald’s via his nonprofit American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER).
But despite litigious badgering from bigots like Blum, and social media attacks by right-wing zealots like Elon Musk and Robby Starbuck, the list of companies doubling down or remaining steadfast on their DEI initiatives, continues to grow – even if rebranded. For example, Salesforce calls its robust DEI initiatives “Equality.”
Boards Backing DEI: Corporate Resistance to Opposition
Likewise, boards of directors of at least 10 publicly traded corporations have unanimously doubled down on their DEI initiatives. The Queen Zone reported on Costco’s board urging its shareholders to vote against an anti-DEI proposal brought forth by right-wing nonprofit the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR).
Costco has garnered the most media attention, but the retail giant is not alone. 10 other companies received identical proposals, same as the one brought to Costco by the NCPPR. And all 10 boards, like Costco’s, rejected the proposal unanimously. Here are the companies, including Costco and Apple, that are taking a stand for their DEI practices, as first reported by Andrew Droste on his Mr. CorpGov Substack:
Boards of these 10 companies have unanimously urged their shareholders to vote against anti-DEI proposals at their 2025 annual shareholder meetings:
- Apple
- Boeing
- Cigna
- Citigroup
- Coca-Cola
- Costco
- John Deere
- MGM Resorts
- PepsiCo
- Progressive
NCPPR claimed victory over AT&T, announcing in a press release that the group had successfully negotiated an agreement with the telecom giant, prompting NCPPR to withdraw its anti-DEI shareholder proposal.
However, an AT&T spokesperson messaged The Queen Zone about the agreement with NCPPR. AT&T’s statement suggests the company made very minor concessions, if any:
“After discussions with the NCPPR, we agreed to publicly list the state and federal regulations that require us to report supplier diversity information in order to be recognized as a preferred supplier to various federal and state agencies. We ensure that all suppliers are evaluated based on their ability to deliver quality products and services that meet our standards.”
Continued Recruitment for DEI Leadership
Despite the enormity of pressures, many large companies are continuing to augment their DEI leadership teams.
Partial list of companies recruiting for DEI senior leadership roles in 2025:
- Adobe
- Johnson & Johnson
- MassMutual
- Tiffany (owned by luxury goods giant LVMH)
- TJX Companies (parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and Sierra)
Why are so many companies doubling down on DEI?
Delta Airlines neatly summarized why so many companies are sticking to or even augmenting their DEI commitments, despite right-wing pressure. Peter Carter, Delta’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs, confirmed on the company’s earnings call this month that the airline is not reevaluating its DEI initiatives. He said, “We are steadfast in our commitments because we believe they are critical to our business.”
While some people might argue the companies above are merely paying lip service to DEI, one thing is clear: Judging from the growing list of companies standing strong, DEI doesn’t seem to be “on the ropes,” as the Times reported. Rather, it would appear that DEI is on fresh legs in the center of the ring, landing a flurry of counterpunches.
I invite companies that are recruiting for DEI roles to contact me on LinkedIn to be added to the list above.
Nothing in this article constitutes investment advice, directly or indirectly.
Read Nancy Levine Stearn’s other articles on the topic of DEI here.
