It’s been slightly more than a week since President Donald Trump began his second term, but he’s already made his mark on the biggest current workforce debate of our time: diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI).
Trump signed an executive order last week eliminating all federal DEI programs. The following day, he issued an additional presidential action that directed government agencies to go after “illegal private sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.”
The latest moves will have wide-ranging repercussions, but they’re not happening in a vacuum. After the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action at colleges and universities in 2023, it kicked off a cultural backlash against diversity initiatives. Several major companies have rolled back their DEI policies over the past year, including Lowe’s, Harley Davidson and Molson Coors. And this month, other major companies including Meta, and McDonald’s have followed suit.
But even as the tide sharply turns against DEI, not everyone is abandoning ship. Many major companies have made public commitments to diversity and inclusion. These are some of organizations that have made public statements in one form or another about their commitment to DEI.
Costco
Costco is perhaps the most notable example of a company that has stood by their DEI policies.
In mid-January, the company’s shareholders overwhelmingly voted against a proposal urging the wholesale club to evaluate risks posed by its diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. Costco’s board of directors unanimously advised shareholders to vote against the measure, stating that “our commitment to an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary. The report requested by this proposal would not provide meaningful additional information to our shareholders.”
Costco did not respond to Fortune’s request for additional comment.
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has made clear that he is not afraid of the anti-DEI activists who have pledged to go after the banking powerhouse.
“We are going to continue to reach out to the Black community and Hispanic community, LGBT community, and the veteran community,” Dimon said in a live interview with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 22. “We’re not trying to pander to any which side or any which thing. Now if you point to something we’re doing that’s wrong, I’d change it. And we will make modifications going forward, but we’re very proud of what we’ve done, and what we’ve done is lift up cities, schools, states, hospitals, countries, companies, and we’re gonna do more of the same.”
When reached for comment, a JPMorgan spokesperson told Fortune: “We believe our DEI strategies, programs and initiatives are well-conceived, rightly intended and executed in a way that reasonably manages risk. We will continue to review our approach and programs as the law develops further in this area and make adjustments as appropriate based on our firm objectives and legal requirements.”
JPMorgan also directed Fortune to Dimon’s most recent annual letter to shareholders in April 2024, in which he touted some of the company’s initiatives, including “Business Resource Groups,” “Women on the Move,” and “Advancing Black Pathways.”
Apple
Like Costco, the tech behemoth’s board of directors recommended in January that its shareholders reject a proposal to reconsider their DEI initiatives. “At Apple, we believe that how we conduct ourselves is as critical to Apple’s success as making the best products in the world,” the company said in its proxy statement. “We seek to conduct business ethically, honestly, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and our Business Conduct and Compliance policies are foundational to how we do business. And we strive to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work.”
The proposals submitted to Costco and Apple were both put forward by conservative think-tank The National Center for Public Policy Research.
Apple did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
Leaders at social media platform Pinterest have publicly stood by their DEI outlook.
The company’s CEO, Bill Ready, spoke to CNBC at Davos, saying that “people on our platform come from all walks of life, from all different backgrounds. And so we've been very focused on how we drive inclusivity in our platform with things like inclusive AI, with things like diversity by default in our feed.”
When reached for comment, a Pinterest spokesperson directed Fortune to Ready’s comments, as well as a recent LinkedIn post from Wanji Walcott, the company’s chief legal business and business affairs officer. Walcott penned a reflection on the significance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day (which also fell on Inauguration Day this year) which highlighted the fact that Pinterest’s DEI work will continue on in the face of obstacles.
“It’s never been more important to create spaces where everyone feels welcome – and where everyone has a fair shot at opportunities to lead and contribute. That view is a core part of what makes Pinterest strong as a company and as a platform – and we will not waver in that belief.”
Microsoft
In December, Microsoft’s chief diversity officer, Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, wrote in a LinkedIn post that the company’s “diversity and inclusion work is more important than ever.” She also highlighted the organization’s October 2024 Global Diversity and Inclusion Report, pointing out that 76% of Microsoft employees joined the company for both their career and Microsoft’s culture.
“For Microsoft, transparency and accountability are not a trend or a season,” she wrote.
e.l.f. Beauty
The Oakland-based beauty company has garnered attention recently for their creative and eye-catching diversity and inclusive campaigns.
They don’t actually have a chief diversity officer or any other roles related to DEI, but the company’s board is notably diverse, made up of 78% women, and 44% people of color. e.l.f. has also created outward-facing campaigns that focus on diversity within corporate America, and “The Not-So-White Paper,” which aims to double the diversity on corporate boards.
“The way in which e.l.f. has seamlessly woven this topic into the fabric of who we are–deeply rooted our DNA–is getting a lot of attention right now,” Kory Marchisotto, chief marketing officer at e.l.f. Beauty, tells Fortune. “We’re unwavering in our commitment. Nothing has changed. We went to bed one night, the snow globe got shaken up, and we’re still standing here.”
Goldman Sachs
When asked about the anti-DEI activists targeting Goldman Sachs at Davos, CEO David Solomon did not speak to the company’s stance directly, but noted that “more broadly we've always looked at these issues through the eyes of our clients. We're advising our clients. They think about these things. They think about decarbonization, they think about climate transition. They think about their businesses, how they find talent, the diversity of the talent they find all over the world.”
In the aftermath of Trump’s executive actions, a spokesperson told Fortune: “We strongly believe that organizations benefit from diverse perspectives, and Goldman Sachs is committed to operating our programs and policies in compliance with the law.”
Cisco
Like many of his fellow company heads, Chuck Robbins, CEO of Cisco, also defended DEI while at Davos. “If I’m sitting in a room to try to solve a complex problem or to chase a big opportunity, I want a lot of diverse brains in that room. I don’t care if it’s gender or nationality or diversity of experience,” he said on CNBC. “Diversity in general is good for business.”
Cisco did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
Delta
When asked if the company was reevaluating its DEI policies during a Jan. 10 earnings call, chief legal officer and corporate secretary Peter Carter said: “No, we are not. We are steadfast in our commitments because we think that they're actually critical to our business.”
Delta did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
Salesforce
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff pledged to protect employees from discriminatory attacks during an interview with Axios at Davos, adding that if “somebody’s going to come after our employees or discriminate against them in any way, we’ll do everything we can to help them, support them.”
Salesforce did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
