How are C-suites reacting to Trump’s DEI orders?

Most are in a holding pattern, a Littler survey showed — but certain initiatives may be on the chopping block.

By Kathryn Moody • March 10, 2025

State Street ditches board diversity requirement, completes Big Three DEI retreat

The nation’s third-largest asset manager will no longer require company boards to feature a certain percentage of women, following similar changes by BlackRock and Vanguard.

By Lamar Johnson • March 6, 2025

Paramount DEI initiative changes spark employee ire

While Paramount's co-CEOs cited the president's executive order in their decision, internal backlash highlights the line employers are trying to toe.

By Caroline Colvin • March 6, 2025

Navigating sustainability standards: A hotelier’s guide for choosing the right green certification

Alina Arnelle, chief sustainability officer at BeCause, shares five strategies to help hotels identify green certifications with the most value.

By Alina Arnelle • March 6, 2025

Mars pledges $27M to slash dairy emissions

The confectionery giant is partnering with New Zealand-based dairy co-operative Fonterra to fund more sustainable farming practices.

By Kelly Stroh • March 5, 2025

EPA $20B funding freeze leaves ‘green bank’ nonprofits unable to pay bills

The Climate United Fund, which received a $6.97 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grant, will soon become unable to make payroll or disburse funding to its contracted borrowers, said a spokesperson.

By Diana DiGangi • March 4, 2025

BofA, Wells, Truist de-emphasize DEI in annual filings

In its paperwork, BofA now uses “opportunity” in place of diversity. Wells, meanwhile, scrapped its diverse-slate interview policy, along with mentions of its pay equity review.

By Caitlin Mullen • March 4, 2025

BlackRock ends diversity goals, merges DEI team into ‘Talent and Culture’

The nation’s largest asset manager said it will not renew “aspirational workforce representation goals” which expired in 2024, in response to executive orders targeting DEI programs.

By Lamar Johnson • March 3, 2025

Wells Fargo scraps net-zero target as banks recalibrate sustainability strategy

The bank is dropping its goal of achieving net-zero financed emissions across its portfolio by 2050, in addition to 2030 targets it set for sector-specific financed emissions.

By Zoya Mirza • March 3, 2025

92% of CFOs plan to boost sustainability spending

A majority of companies expect to allocate more than 2% of revenue to sustainability initiatives this year.

By David McCann • March 3, 2025

BP cuts renewable spending, doubles down on fossil fuels in strategy reset

The U.K.-based oil major said its investments in the clean energy transition business will now be “significantly lower” and range between $1.5 billion to $2 billion per year.  

By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 28, 2025

One of UK’s largest pension funds picks Amundi, Invesco to manage bulk of its portfolio

The People’s Pension credited the firms’ “commitment to responsible investment” for the move. State Street previously managed the fund’s entire portfolio.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 28, 2025

Anti-ESG groups intensify activism early in 2025 proxy season

Opposition to corporate sustainability efforts has grown in recent years, culminating in an anti-ESG order by President Donald Trump last month.

By Jim Tyson • Feb. 28, 2025

EU adopts omnibus proposal, trims sustainability reporting requirements

The simplified package would remove 80% of companies from the scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and delay reporting timelines.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 27, 2025

U.S. Bank scrubs DEI, fair pay references

Mentions of the lender’s diverse-slate hiring policy, pay comparisons by gender and race, and flexible work were absent from its most recent annual filing.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 27, 2025

Federal judge blocks parts of Trump’s private-sector DEI order

The White House’s enforcement threat against private-sector DEI programs is “textbook viewpoint-based discrimination,” according to the Feb. 21 decision.

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 27, 2025

Apple shareholders emphatically reject anti-DEI proposal

More than 97% of voting shareholders dismissed the proposal by a conservative think tank asking Apple to “cease DEI efforts” at its annual meeting.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 26, 2025

Ikea revises zero emission delivery goal, lowers ambition

The global furniture retailer said it was revising a goal to use zero emission vehicles for home deliveries by 2025 and now aiming to reach 90% of this target by 2028.

By Zoya Mirza • Feb. 26, 2025

Morgan Stanley, Capital One downplay DEI efforts

A Morgan Stanley filing highlights its proportion of women and ethnically diverse employees but contains a statement on “meritocracy.” Meanwhile, Capital One isn't touting pay equity like it used to.

By Dan Ennis • Feb. 26, 2025

SEC updates guidance on ESG engagement disclosures, prompts temporary confusion

BlackRock and Vanguard, the nation’s largest asset managers, temporarily paused shareholder engagement meetings after a recent update to agency guidance.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 25, 2025

Asset owners demand greater transparency on ESG amid increased scrutiny: Cerulli

Pressure from regulators and stakeholders is driving a demand for accountability, but reporting standardization hurdles persist, analysts from the research firm said.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • Feb. 25, 2025

Citi tosses diversity goals, DEI label

The lender is scrapping “aspirational representation goals” and diverse job candidate requirements, as more companies abandon diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

By Caitlin Mullen • Feb. 25, 2025

Recent DEI shifts represent an ‘evolution’ of the practice: Bridge

Companies should understand the opportunities DEI programs present before assessing risk mitigation needs amid increased scrutiny, counsels DEI trade group CEO Sheryl Daija.

By Lamar Johnson • Feb. 24, 2025

Starbucks’ DEI policies labeled ‘discriminatory’ in Missouri AG’s lawsuit

A spokesperson for the coffee chain denied the claim and said the company’s hiring and benefits programs are “open to everyone and lawful.”

By Ryan Golden • Feb. 24, 2025

Trump’s tariffs could raise onshore wind turbine costs by 7%, slow development: WoodMac

Wind generation deployments could be reduced by nearly a third by the end of this decade due to the tariffs, according to a Wood Mackenzie analyst.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 21, 2025