Apple Rejects Calls to Abandon DEI Initiatives
Apple will continue to uphold its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, regardless of the Trump administration's opposition to such programs. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Apple shareholders have voted against a proposal to eliminate the company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies during an investor meeting on Tuesday, as reported by the AP. This decision occurs in the context of recent governmental efforts to dismantle DEI programs at both corporate and federal levels.
The proposal, brought forth by the National Center for Public Policy Research—a conservative think tank—urged Apple to end its DEI initiatives, emphasizing possible legal, reputational, and financial risks associated with such policies.
While companies typically implement DEI policies to foster workforce diversity and ensure equitable treatment for all individuals, these programs have faced criticism for allegedly offering preference to specific groups over others and for lacking a merit-based approach.
After the vote, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the company might need to reassess some of its diversity practices in light of the evolving legal environment across the nation. “We’ll continue to work together to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work,” he stated to shareholders, as cited by the news agency. He also affirmed that the company would maintain its “commitment to the values that have always made us who we are.”
In related developments, Costco’s shareholders also turned down a proposal from the same think tank to assess the potential risks tied to DEI practices.
Following his inauguration on January 20, US President Donald Trump acted on his campaign promise to eliminate DEI initiatives from federal workplaces and educational institutions. He signed two executive orders that revoked protections for transgender rights and dismantled the DEI programs established by former President Joe Biden.
These executive orders have encountered some legal challenges. A federal judge in Maryland recently issued a temporary injunction against the government’s enforcement of DEI bans in federal agencies and among businesses contracting with the federal government. Earlier this month, a lawsuit was filed against Trump and 26 other defendants by the National Urban League, National Fair Housing Alliance, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, claiming that these orders threatened their federal funding.
Despite the significant changes in federal policy, many major US corporations, including Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, McDonald’s, Ford, Walmart, and Goldman Sachs, have opted to either abandon or scale back their DEI programs.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
The proposal, brought forth by the National Center for Public Policy Research—a conservative think tank—urged Apple to end its DEI initiatives, emphasizing possible legal, reputational, and financial risks associated with such policies.
While companies typically implement DEI policies to foster workforce diversity and ensure equitable treatment for all individuals, these programs have faced criticism for allegedly offering preference to specific groups over others and for lacking a merit-based approach.
After the vote, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the company might need to reassess some of its diversity practices in light of the evolving legal environment across the nation. “We’ll continue to work together to create a culture of belonging where everyone can do their best work,” he stated to shareholders, as cited by the news agency. He also affirmed that the company would maintain its “commitment to the values that have always made us who we are.”
In related developments, Costco’s shareholders also turned down a proposal from the same think tank to assess the potential risks tied to DEI practices.
Following his inauguration on January 20, US President Donald Trump acted on his campaign promise to eliminate DEI initiatives from federal workplaces and educational institutions. He signed two executive orders that revoked protections for transgender rights and dismantled the DEI programs established by former President Joe Biden.
These executive orders have encountered some legal challenges. A federal judge in Maryland recently issued a temporary injunction against the government’s enforcement of DEI bans in federal agencies and among businesses contracting with the federal government. Earlier this month, a lawsuit was filed against Trump and 26 other defendants by the National Urban League, National Fair Housing Alliance, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, claiming that these orders threatened their federal funding.
Despite the significant changes in federal policy, many major US corporations, including Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, McDonald’s, Ford, Walmart, and Goldman Sachs, have opted to either abandon or scale back their DEI programs.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
