Corporate DEI Programs Recoil and Rebrand as Pressure Mounts

The attack on corporate DEI programs, after gaining momentum throughout 2024, is poised to expand into the new year.

Five trends emerged in 2024 that are likely to continue: conservative influencer Robby Starbuck, emboldened by success, expects to target more companies to dismantle their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; companies have increasingly been changing the ways they talk about DEI to avoid political conflict; conservative forces in Washington have set their sights on corporate and government DEI programs; legal groups challenging diversity programs will persist; and more companies are expected to flag DEI as a risk.

But it’s complicated: while ...