EY report highlights diversity initiatives as DEI comes under scrutiny in Trump’s first weeks in power

Donald Trump has targeted DEI Initiatives for federal government workers.

A new report from the Big Four professional services firm EY has underlined the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, strategies in improving productivity and workforce innovation.

The report, called “DE&I interventions that deliver,” considered the impact of inclusive policies in UK companies in the context of the “economic slowdown and uncertainty” that have characterized the past few years.

Developed in partnership with leading diversity campaigns and DEI specialists in the UK, it recommended the top approaches for improving DEI in the workplace.

The recommendations include taking a data-driven approach to workforce analysis, targeted recruitment strategies to attract diverse candidates, and providing flexibility on when and how roles are performed.

EY’s report comes as DEI policies are under sharp attack in the US. In an executive order, President Donald Trump rolled back DEI programs for federal government workers during his first week in office, and he’s encouraged private-sector companies to do the same.

The president wants federal agencies to identify “the most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners” across public companies and nonprofits for possible civil investigations.

Target, Meta, Walmart, and other major US companies have been altering or cutting their DEI programs, in line with Trump’s messaging.

Others like Costco and JPMorgan are standing by DEI and have publicly defended their diversity initiatives. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll from April found that 61% of Americans support DEI practices.

Anna Anthony, EY’s UK and Ireland regional managing partner, said the report’s findings aimed to provide insight to UK companies.

“Diversity, equity and inclusion are not just ethical values — they are critical drivers of innovation, productivity, and economic growth,” Anthony said.

Creating inclusive workplace cultures and amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups creates a business environment “where creativity flourishes, individuals thrive, and everyone benefits,” Anthony said.

Sir Trevor Phillips, the chair of Change the Race Ratio, one of the groups that contributed to EY’s report, said the report underlines the importance of DEI.

“The fact that there are questions being asked about the value of diversity and inclusion programmes is a sign, not that we should do less, but that we should do more — and do better,” Phillips said.