Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., on Irans refusal to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions and the upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on DEI.
Share of Fortune 500 companies that have gone public diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ties have dropped by nearly two-thirds since last year, a new study shows.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released the latest version of its Corporate Equality Index on Tuesday, which showed a 65% drop in the number of Fortune 500 companies that chose to voluntarily submit their DEI policies for evaluation on the index.
HRC noted that 131 companies in Lucky 500 chose to participate in the CEI this year, down from 377 in 2025, and the group noted that many of the companies that chose to participate are government contractors.
“What we’re seeing is the collapse of the social lending system,” Robby Starbuck, host of the “Robby Starbuck Show” and fellow in capital markets at the Heritage Foundation, told FOX Business. “HRC’s CEI program turned living rooms into political offices, where companies were pressured to demonstrate their integrity instead of focusing on their businesses, customers, employees and shareholders.”
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The number of Fortune 500 companies participating in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index has dropped by nearly two-thirds since last year. (Getty Images)
Starbuck, who has emerged as a leading activist in highlighting corporate DEI policies in recent years, added that the decline in participation in the index shows that those policies have been inconsistent. middle americans and that company leaders are aware of the risks they pose when stocks decline amid DEI disputes.
“Although I am happy to defeat this bad idea, I still have 35% left to finish it and mark my words, I will do it,” he added. “It turns out that supporting sex change in children, DEI racism and workplace struggles aren’t that popular in the real world!”
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Conservative activist Robby Starbuck has been an outspoken opponent of DEI’s pro-business policies. (Bess Adler/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to “end DEI’s illegal discrimination and preferences” while ordering federal agencies to take steps to encourage private companies to end DEI’s illegal policies through regulatory actions, investigations, litigation or other means.
HRC president Kelley Robinson said that while it is still legal to discriminate against LGBTQ+ employees, she noted in the group’s report that “pressure from LGBTQ+ employees provincial government unprecedented, rolling back protections, publishing executive orders and threatening investigations into diversity and inclusion work.
“It is in this situation that other companies have withdrawn from this project,” he added.
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Activists encouraged companies to engage in political issues in addition to adopting DEI’s internal policies. (Alisha Jucevic/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
HRC noted that among the companies that disclosed DEI policies and procedures by using the CEI in 2025 and 2026, they found that the implementation of those policies and procedures was sustained or increased without decreasing.
“Companies that speak clearly and lead clearly gain trust, retain talent, and strengthen their business. And they have strong support from their shareholders who rejected the anti-DEI measures in a near unanimous vote,” said Robinson.
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“At a time when fear and confusion are growing, providing clarity and confidence is not just good leadership – it’s essential.”
