Table 1 Quantifiable impact of the US...

Table 1

Quantifiable impact of the US corporate DEI rollback (2024–2025)

Impact Area	Metric/Observed Change	Strategic Implication
Strategic Silence/Disclosure	68% decline in the use of the term “DEI” in S&P 500 major filings (2024–2025)	Prioritization of legal risk mitigation over public transparency and ESG commitment
Employee Morale	47% of firms reported lower employee morale/disengagement	Direct contributor to lost productivity ($200 M+) and organizational instability
Talent Retention	36% of firms faced retention challenges for diverse talent	Increased recruitment costs and long-term erosion of competitive advantage
Workplace Discrimination	18% of firms saw increased workplace discrimination	Increased risk of internal Title VII lawsuits and reputational damage

Impact Area	Metric/Observed Change	Strategic Implication
Strategic Silence/Disclosure	68% decline in the use of the term “DEI” in S&P 500 major filings (2024–2025)	Prioritization of legal risk mitigation over public transparency and ESG commitment
Employee Morale	47% of firms reported lower employee morale/disengagement	Direct contributor to lost productivity ($200 M+) and organizational instability
Talent Retention	36% of firms faced retention challenges for diverse talent	Increased recruitment costs and long-term erosion of competitive advantage
Workplace Discrimination	18% of firms saw increased workplace discrimination	Increased risk of internal Title VII lawsuits and reputational damage

Note(s): Aggregated from Singla (2025) and The Conference Board (2025), ESG = Environmental, Social and Governance, which are criteria used to evaluate a company's impact on society and the environment, as well as its corporate governance practices; Title VII (Civil Rights Act of 1964) = a federal law that prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin

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