State AGs warn retail giant Costco for doubling down on ‘discriminatory’ DEI
Attorneys general in 19 states are taking a stand against what they see as unlawful discrimination imposed by Costco through its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. This comes in response to President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, which aims to eliminate DEI practices in federal agencies and urges private sectors to do the same.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach emphasized that racial discrimination is both immoral and illegal, and vowed to vigorously enforce the law against race-based employment hiring practices. Trump’s executive order empowers these attorneys general to investigate and potentially take legal action against organizations that engage in discriminatory DEI practices.
A group of 19 state attorneys general, led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, penned a letter to Costco’s CEO urging the company to end its DEI policies. The order encourages private-sector entities to align with federal civil rights laws and discontinue any discriminatory practices. Potential targets for DEI investigations include publicly traded companies, large nonprofits, foundations, bar and medical associations, and higher education institutions with substantial endowments.
While other major companies like Target, McDonald’s, and Walmart have backed off from their DEI policies in response to the executive order, Costco shareholders recently voted to reject an anti-DEI proposal. The company’s board defended its commitment to respect and inclusion, stating that the proposed report on DEI risks would not provide meaningful additional information.
Despite pushback from Costco, the attorneys general remain firm in their stance against discriminatory DEI policies. Rev. Al Sharpton even led a “buy in” at a Harlem Costco to show support for the company’s rejection of the anti-DEI proposal. The attorneys general are demanding a response from Costco within the next 30 days regarding the repeal of their DEI policies.
The letter to Costco’s CEO emphasizes the importance of race-neutral practices and the eradication of invidious race-based discrimination in woke corporations. Attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and several other states have joined in this call to action.
Fox News Digital reached out to Costco for a response but did not receive one by the time of publication. The attorneys general are prepared to take further action to ensure that Costco complies with the law and eliminates discriminatory DEI practices from its operations.
