Research indicates that firms which upheld diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies after Donald Trump's executive orders in January 2025 performed financially on par with those that did not. Notably, companies like Apple and Google that maintained their DEI commitments saw positive stock market responses, contrary to the anticipated backlash from conservative groups.
The analysis by Jacob Grumbach from UC Berkeley revealed that many companies adjusted their DEI strategies in response to political pressures but did not suffer financially for their decisions to retain some DEI initiatives. This suggests a complex landscape for corporate governance amid shifting political climates.