Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has expressed concerns over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives by addressing a letter to the Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs from top U.S. companies. He, along with attorneys general from 15 states, demands the group abandon practices deemed unlawful and racially discriminatory under federal law.
The letter suggests that Business Roundtable members have shifted away from free-market principles in favor of costly DEI strategies. It calls for a focus on economic growth, job creation, and maximizing shareholder returns rather than implementing racially-based hiring quotas and mandatory ideological training. The letter labels these practices as "not only unworkable but also often illegal."
Attorney General Marshall commented, "The purpose of publicly traded companies is to drive job creation, fuel economic growth, and maximize returns for shareholders. If discriminatory DEI practices actually advanced those goals, companies wouldn’t be retreating from them." He further emphasized, "Let’s be clear: if your company is using racial preferences or quotas, that discriminatory path has been ruled unlawful by the U.S. Supreme Court."
The letter indicates a change among Business Roundtable members concerning DEI policies, suggesting recognition of their legal and practical pitfalls. It calls for a return to merit-based hiring practices which align with shareholder interests and comply with employment laws. "The Business Roundtable’s member CEOs should immediately abandon quotas, targets, racial preferences, and other discriminatory DEI practices," the letter concludes.
The initiative, led by Missouri, includes participation from attorneys general of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and South Dakota.