ANALYSIS
Report Finds DEI is Under Siege Across Sectors and Nearly Every State
In recent years, the United States has seen a stark rise in attacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Within the last month alone, efforts to limit these democratic values have made headlines both in the private sector and in education, with household retailer Tractor Supply slashing its DEI roles, and the University of Utah being forced to close its LGBT Center to comply with anti-DEI legislation.
At least 42 states have introduced over 440 bills attacking DEI since 2023, according to a one-of-a-kind report from MAP. Dismantling DEI: A Coordinated Attack on American Values, released today, shows where these attacks have been focused and how lawmakers are crafting policies to ban or severely restrict DEI and other work to address social justice issues.
MAP’s report breaks down strategies opponents have used to target DEI within the government, education, and the private sector, and further demonstrates the harmful impacts of these attacks on communities. In addition, MAP’s analysis zooms out to demonstrate the broader scope and context of these developments across sectors.
In Government
- Since 2023, at least 256 bills have been introduced in the states attacking DEI in different government settings. Today, 20 states now have at least one law that restricts or bans DEI practices in different government settings.
In Education
- Since 2023, at least 157 bills explicitly attacking DEI in education have been introduced across 34 states. Today, at least 15 states have enacted these bans or restrictions into law.
In Business
- Since 2023, at least 226 bills explicitly attacking DEI or ESG in at least some private business settings have been introduced across 36 states. Today, at least 16 states have enacted such laws.
Despite a proliferation of coordinated counter efforts, Americans nationwide overwhelmingly support DEI values. Dismantling DEI also details how people across the country are fighting back against these attacks. For instance:
- The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights recently joined forces with over 140 other civil rights, education, economic justice, and labor organizations across the country to urge the Biden Administration to support and protect DEI efforts in the government and nationwide.
- Educators in states that have passed anti-DEI laws, including Florida and Texas, remain steadfast in their commitment to teaching about topics deemed divisive.
- Despite facing intimidation tactics, business leaders have also pushed back against anti-DEI attacks. In the retail sector, over 78 signatories have signed the Mitigate Racial Bias in Retail Charter, an initiative of Open to All and Sephora.
From state legislatures and court houses to Congress, universities, and business board rooms, far-right extremists and conservative lawmakers are politicizing DEI initiatives to regress back to a time when communities of color, women, LGBTQ people and others were marginalized and silenced. Attacks on these practices are designed to confuse, scare, and polarize people in order to erase the social progress of the last 50 years.
As opponents attempt to redefine DEI and morph its intent, the basic definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion should be remembered: recognizing differences, ensuring fairness, and creating a sense of belonging. These are practices that build strong relationships and communities — and they bring people closer together, regardless of narratives that insist that they divide us.
▸▸ Learn more
- Read MAP’s full-text report, Dismantling DEI: A Coordinated Attack on American Values.
- Read Open to All’s new playbook on DEI for businesses, which outlines the case for embracing inclusive practices and addresses skewed narratives about DEI in the private sector.
