Apple shareholders have firmly rejected a proposal to dismantle the company’s Inclusion & Diversity program, signaling continued investor support for diversity initiatives even as other major corporations scale back similar efforts.
Per CNBC, the vote took place at Apple’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, where the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) urged Apple to abolish its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, arguing that such programs pose legal and financial risks.
The rejected proposal reflected a broader corporate and political shift away from DEI initiatives, driven in part by last year’s Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in college admissions. Since then, major companies including Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, Zoom, Amazon, McDonald’s, Target, Ford, Lowe’s, and Walmart have either scaled back or scrapped their DEI programs.
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Despite this trend, Apple made it clear that it stands by its diversity initiatives—at least for now. CEO Tim Cook defended Apple’s DEI efforts, emphasizing that diversity remains a key driver of the company’s success.
The proposal, brought forward by NCPPR, specifically called for Apple to eliminate its DEI program, department, policies, and goals, claiming that such initiatives could lead to discriminatory hiring practices and potential legal liabilities. The group cited a CNBC report showing that other tech giants have scaled back diversity programs and referenced President Donald Trump’s recent executive order directing the Department of Justice to investigate potential DEI-related discrimination.
At the meeting, Stephen Padfield, executive director of NCPPR, argued that corporate America is shifting away from DEI initiatives and that Apple should follow suit.
“The risks to Apple stemming from continuing to push these divisive and value-destroying agendas is only increasing in light of President Trump’s recent executive order focusing the Department of Justice on rooting out illegal discrimination being carried out in the name of DEI,” Padfield stated. “The vibe shift is clear. DEI is out, and merit is in.”
Apple, however, rejected the proposal outright, arguing that it is already in full compliance with employment laws and that scrapping the DEI program would interfere with company strategy.
“Our strength has always come from hiring the very best people and then providing a culture of collaboration, one where people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to innovate and create something magical for our users,” Tim Cook said.
However, Cook acknowledged that the evolving legal landscape might force Apple to make changes. The company’s approach to diversity will likely be influenced by growing legal challenges and shifting political pressures at the federal level.
Corporate America Retreats from DEI as Legal Risks Grow
The growing rollback of DEI programs across corporate America has been accelerated by legal and political pressures, particularly following the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action in 2024. The ruling, which struck down race-based admissions policies at universities, has had a ripple effect in the private sector, with companies reassessing their diversity hiring and promotion initiatives to avoid legal liabilities.
Since Trump returned to office in January, his administration has wasted no time in targeting corporate DEI policies. One of Trump’s first executive orders in his new term sought to dismantle federal DEI programs, setting the stage for heightened legal scrutiny of diversity efforts in the private sector.
Given these developments, corporations that continue to promote DEI are expected to face increasing pressure from investors, legal challenges, and potential regulatory action.
Apple’s DEI Commitments and Workforce Demographics
Unlike other members of the American tech industry, Apple has remained committed to diversity. The company’s DEI initiatives include internal support groups for underrepresented employees, accessibility features for people with disabilities, and research to mitigate racial bias in Apple products and services.
Apple’s workforce statistics, according to 2022 figures published on its website, show that nearly two-thirds (65%) of the workforce is male, 35% of employees are female, 42% are white and 30% are Asian.
Apple has not indicated whether it will modify its DEI programs in response to shifting legal and political pressures. However, Cook’s comments suggest that the company may eventually be forced to adapt its approach as the federal government and courts continue to scrutinize diversity policies.
Other Shareholder Proposals Rejected
The shareholder meeting also saw the rejection of several other key proposals related to Apple’s corporate governance and ethical responsibilities.
Shareholders voted against a proposal to require Apple to produce reports on:
- The ethical use of AI and data
- The costs and benefits of Apple’s efforts to combat child exploitation
- Apple’s charitable giving practices
Another proposal, brought forward by the National Legal and Policy Center, focused on Apple’s partnership with OpenAI. The group argued that Apple’s deal with OpenAI might contradict its strong stance on privacy and urged Apple to prepare a report on the risks of using private or unlicensed data to train AI models.
Apple opposed the proposal, arguing that it already discloses its AI privacy policies and that an additional report was unnecessary.
While activist proposals were largely rejected, Apple shareholders approved the company’s board of directors, auditor, and executive compensation package.
Notably, Tim Cook’s compensation package for 2024 was approved, with his total pay rising to $74.61 million, up from $64.21 million in 2023. Apple defended Cook’s salary, noting that under his leadership, Apple’s market capitalization has increased by over $3 trillion.
At the meeting, Cook also reaffirmed Apple’s commitment to its $500 billion U.S. investment plan, which was praised by Trump earlier this week.
“The U.S. is our home, and we’re deeply committed to the country’s future,” Cook said.
Additionally, Apple announced plans to increase its annual dividend, with further details expected in May.
“We’ve also paid out more than $165 billion in dividends, including $15.3 billion in just the last four quarters,” Cook stated.