DEI Isn't Dying — It’s Evolving
A new study finds most companies remain committed to inclusion efforts despite legal and political backlash.
Despite mounting political and legal pressure on workplace diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, a large majority of U.S. organizations say they remain committed to building fair and diverse workplaces, according to new research.
The research — conducted by Catalyst, a workplace consultancy, in collaboration with NYU School of Law’s Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging — found that while 77% of U.S. organizations have shifted their DEI investments over the last three years, 80% say they remain committed to workplace inclusion, even as legal and cultural pressures reshape how those efforts are implemented.
“Despite a high-risk legal environment, our research shows that DEI is not dying — it is evolving,” said Joy Ohm, vice president at Catalyst. “We see a majority of organizations adjusting their strategies, so this is a story of adaptation, not a broad rollback.”
The research, based on surveys of more than 2,000 employees and leaders at medium and large U.S. organizations, also found that 51% of federal contractors explicitly said they had reduced inclusion efforts amid regulatory pressure, 52% of organizations that are not federal contractors explicitly said they had increased those efforts.
Since the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision striking down affirmative action in college admissions, conservative groups have increasingly targeted workplace diversity programs with lawsuits and public campaigns, prompting some companies to scale back or rename DEI initiatives.
The Trump administration has also moved to curb diversity-related efforts among federal contractors and government agencies, including through executive orders aimed at limiting certain DEI programs.
