Apple board opposes call to end DEI policies against conservative pushback ahead of shareholder vote

Apple’s board of directors has urged investors to vote against a proposal to dismantle the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, following pressure from the conservative National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR). The group argues that DEI policies pose significant “litigation, reputational and financial risks” for firms.

In its filing to investors, Apple emphasized the robustness of its existing compliance measures, stating, “The proposal is unnecessary as Apple already has a well-established compliance program.” The board also criticized the NCPPR’s push to end DEI initiatives, claiming it “inappropriately seeks to micromanage the Company’s programs and policies by suggesting a specific means of legal compliance.”

The proposal will be put to a vote at Apple’s annual general meeting on 25 February, with the board firmly opposing it. This stance comes as several major U.S. companies, including Meta and Amazon, have started scaling back their DEI initiatives in response to growing conservative pressure, particularly with the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Meta, in a recent memo, cited a “shifting legal and policy landscape” and the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision against affirmative action in universities as reasons for its rollback. The move affects Meta’s hiring, supplier diversity, and training efforts. Notably, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been making conciliatory gestures toward Trump, including a $1 million donation to his inauguration fund and hiring a Republican public affairs chief.

As the debate around DEI intensifies, conservative groups have threatened legal action against companies maintaining such programs, alleging that they conflict with the recent Supreme Court ruling.

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