People raise a flag outside the U.S. Supreme Court on December 4, 2024 in Washington, DC. Oral arguments underway over whether states can ban certain gender reassignment medical treatments for young people.
Robert Schmidt AFP | Getty Images
A new study by the LGBTQ+ group Human Rights Campaign shows a significant decline in Fortune 500 companies actively disclosing their diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
HRC’s 2026 Corporate Equality Index saw a 65% drop in participating companies this year, from 377 Fortune 500 companies in 2025 to just 131 in 2026. HRC noted that many of the companies that dropped out have federal contracts.
“Our research shows the strength and strain of this moment for LGBTQ+ workers, consumers and the businesses that rely on us,” HRC President Kelly Robinson said in a statement.
According to HRC, 534 of the 1,450 companies that participated received a score of 100, representing approximately 6 million U.S. employees.
HRC’s index was established in 2002 and evaluates companies based on social responsibility and fairness in the workplace.
Over the past two years, an anti-DEI movement championed by the White House has begun to reshape the index, making it a conservative target.
The Corporate Equality Index shows more and more companies falling off the rails. tractor supply Including big names like walmart, ford and lowe’s. Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer and grocery store, said it spoke with conservative activist Robbie Starbuck, who has publicly advocated for a withdrawal from DEI, before withdrawing.
This was a big change from a few years ago, when companies like Ford and Walmart issued public statements endorsing DEI and touting its achievements in the workplace.
