On January 23, 2025, Costco shareholders rejected a proposal asking the board to report on the risks of maintaining the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. They did not cast a binding vote to keep or eliminate every DEI program. The official tally was 281,267,612 votes against, 4,857,195 for and 4,092,595 abstentions.
What did Costco shareholders vote on?
The proposal asked Costco’s board to evaluate and report on risks associated with maintaining the company’s current DEI efforts. Its requested scope included “People & Communities” roles, policies and goals. The proposal raised concerns about legal, reputational and financial risks; these were the proponent’s assertions, not findings established by the vote. Costco’s 2025 proxy statement describes the request and the board’s response.
This was a vote on whether the company should prepare the requested report. It was not a binding resolution directing Costco to retain or discontinue particular programs.
How many votes were cast for and against?
Costco’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC reports the final tally as follows:
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| Vote | Shares |
|---|---|
| For the proposal | 4,857,195 |
| Against the proposal | 281,267,612 |
| Abstentions | 4,092,595 |
The SEC filing records the results of the January 23, 2025 annual meeting. The Associated Press characterized the outcome as more than 98% of shares voted against the proposal; that is a rounded description, while the SEC filing provides the exact counts. AP’s contemporaneous report said the National Center for Public Policy Research filed the proposal and placed the vote amid pressure on companies over DEI.
Why did Costco’s board oppose the proposal?
The board unanimously recommended that shareholders vote against the report request. In the proxy statement, it said: “Our Board has considered this proposal and believes that our commitment to an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary. The report requested by this proposal would not provide meaningful additional information to our shareholders.”
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The board also wrote: “Our efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion remind and reinforce with everyone at our Company the importance of creating opportunities for all.” These statements explain the board’s position; they are not independent evidence about the results of individual programs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does the vote establish about Costco’s DEI efforts?
It establishes that shareholders rejected a request for a board report on risks tied to maintaining the company’s DEI efforts. It does not establish that shareholders approved every existing initiative, nor does it show whether any particular policy or practice later changed. The cited meeting records are not a comprehensive inventory of Costco’s internal programs after the proxy statement.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor later meeting context, Costco’s filing for its January 15, 2026 annual meeting lists a shareholder proposal concerning a greenwashing-risk audit rather than a DEI proposal. That different agenda item does not demonstrate that Costco’s DEI practices remained unchanged. The 2026 meeting filing documents the proposal listed there.
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