Trump’s DEI Purge Drives 34% Drop in Pro-ESG Investor Proposals

President Donald Trump’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion helped prompt a plunge in shareholder resolutions from progressive investors that typically push companies on social reform.

Motions filed by groups in favor of environmental, social and governance policies dropped 34% from a year ago to 355 ahead of this year’s annual meeting season, according to a new report Thursday.

At the same time, anti-DEI proposals, which are considered part of ESG, surged. Alliance Defending Freedom, which leads one of the most active conservative investor groups, said its coalition submitted 70 proposals this year, up from 28 in 2024.

As ...