A shareholder advocacy group called As You Sow has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, saying the government has refused to release workplace diversity data for more than two years.
The lawsuit targets the Department of Labor over its handling of a public records request, citing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
As You Sow says it requested diversity data covering 2021 and 2022 but has not received the information despite waiting for years.
The group has previously used this workplace diversity data to publish reports examining the connection between workforce diversity and company financial performance.
Investors are 'flying blind' without access to the data, according to Danielle Fugere, president and chief counsel of As You Sow.
Large companies are required to submit employee demographic information through forms known as EEO-1 reports every year.
However, the Trump administration has signaled that it wants to stop collecting this diversity data as part of its broader diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) reforms.
Some investors strongly oppose ending EEO-1 reporting requirements, arguing that investors need the data to make informed investment decisions.
Even if the federal government stops collecting EEO-1 data, workplace diversity information is unlikely to disappear completely, as states including California and Illinois already require employers to submit workforce demographic reports.
