After George Floyd’s 2020 murder, many companies publicly pledged to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion through task forces, new roles, and workplace changes. As political pressure against DEI intensified, many organizations scaled back or abandoned those commitments. Dr. Bernice A. King said rapid retreat reveals what companies truly are and that values embedded in culture should not be abandoned when pressure arises. She also noted DEI decisions can be complex, especially for universities facing federal scrutiny and potential litigation. Leaders must balance continuing DEI practices with the risk and cost of legal exposure. Some companies have continued defending DEI publicly despite the pressure.
"“If you retreat that quick, it suggests to me that reveals who you really are,” she said Tuesday at Fortune's 2026 Workplace Innovation Summit in Atlanta during a panel moderated by Fortune senior writer Phil Wahba. “When you know who you are, when you know those values, when you live by those values, when you infuse those values in the culture, when the pressure shows up, you don't retreat.”"
"Still, King acknowledged that decisions around DEI are often more nuanced than a simple choice between embracing or abandoning the work. For many leaders, the stakes can be substantial. She pointed to universities that have faced increased scrutiny from the federal government over DEI-related policies. For leaders whose institutions depend on research and public health funding, the pressure has raised difficult questions without clear answers, such as: “How do I make a decision that I can still move forward and practice what DEI represents, but not have the enormous cost of being caught up in litigation?”"
"Even amid growing political pressure around DEI, some companies have continued to stand by their commitments-and defend them publicly. King cited Delta Air Lines as an example of a company that remained vocal about its"
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