Trump slashed DEI. Now it's making a surprising bipartisan comeback

Key Points:

• A new Bentley University-Gallup survey reveals growing bipartisan support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the workplace, with 72% of Americans believing DEI should be a business priority despite political polarization.
• Positive perceptions of DEI's impact on profitability and innovation have increased significantly since 2025, with 75% of respondents associating diverse workforces with more innovative products and 71% linking diversity to higher profitability.
• While Democrats overwhelmingly support DEI (95%), and independents show majority approval (71%), Republican support has also risen to 37%, though skepticism remains higher among GOP respondents regarding DEI's business benefits.
• The survey highlights a disconnect between employee attitudes and corporate actions, as many companies have scaled back DEI efforts amid political pressure, yet rank-and-file workers across parties increasingly value these initiatives.
• Despite growing approval, only about one-third of Americans rate corporate DEI efforts as good or excellent, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with how businesses currently implement diversity programs.