People wave flags outside the U.S. Supreme Court on December 4, 2024 in Washington, DC, during oral arguments on whether states can ban certain medical treatments related to gender transition for young people.
Roberto Schmidt | AFP | Getty Images
A new study from the LGBTQ+ group Human Rights Campaign showed a drastic decline in the number of Fortune 500 companies willing to publicly disclose their diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
HRC’s 2026 Corporate Equality Index saw a 65% drop in participation this year, from 377 Fortune 500 companies in 2025 to just 131 companies in 2026. HRC noted that many of the companies that dropped out hold federal contracts.
“Our research shows the force and strain of this moment on LGBTQ+ workers, consumers, and the businesses who rely on us,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a statement.
Of the 1,450 participating companies, 534 earned a score of 100, representing nearly 6 million U.S. employees, according to HRC.
The HRC Index was launched in 2002 and rates companies based on their social responsibility and workplace fairness.
Over the past two years, the anti-DEI movement, championed by the White House, has begun to reframe the index, making it a conservative target.
The Corporate Equality Index sees more and more companies falling out of its orbit, starting with Supply of tractors and including big names like Walmart, Ford And Lowes. Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer and grocer, said it had conversations with conservative activist Robby Starbuck, who has publicly advocated abandoning DEI, before the company withdrew.
This is a significant change from previous years, when companies like Ford and Walmart issued public statements supporting DEI and touting their workplace accomplishments.