• Apple shareholders rejected a proposal to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
• Its board advised against the proposal, citing business strategy and management concerns.
• This aligns Apple with Costco in opposing the trend of scaling back diversity programs.

Shareholders at Apple have voted to reject a request to cease its diversity, equity, and inclusion moves.

In its proposal to end DEI efforts, the National Center for Public Policy Research said the program "poses litigation, reputational, and financial risks to companies." During Apple's annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday, stockholders voted against the request. The company didn't immediately provide a breakdown of the vote.

Ahead of the meeting, Apple's board recommended that shareholders vote against the "unnecessary" request. The tech giant said the proposal "inappropriately attempts to restrict Apple's ability to manage its own ordinary business operations, people and teams, and business strategies."

The decision stands in contrast to those of the many major companies that have chosen to scale back their programs. The National Center for Public Policy Research cited some of them as examples that Apple shareholders should seek to follow, including Meta, Alphabet, and Microsoft.

Instead, Apple is joining companies like Costco in standing behind DEI efforts. Shareholders for the grocery giant overwhelmingly rejected an anti-DEI proposal last month.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January ending DEI programs in the federal government. As the shift becomes more widespread, many major companies are examining their policies.