Principal Financial, scored a 90 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group. By complying with Human Rights Campaign’s controversial demands, Principal Financial increases the risk of dividing employees, alienating customers and harming shareholders. The company provides a benefits package for employees which covers transgender medical procedures for covered employees and dependents, including children. It also uses sex and gender ideology criteria in marketing. Principal Financial uses its reputation, corporate funds, and political influence to support controversial sex and gender ideologies, organizations, and legislation. Principal Financial requires all its leaders take unconscious bias training and supports the Equality Act, a controversial bill. The company advocated against the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Iowa. CEO Daniel J. Houston is a member of the Business Roundtable and signed its 2019 Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, which promotes stakeholder capitalism over traditional obligations to shareholders. Principal Financial's CEO, Daniel J. Houston, signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace. The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce. However, it does not discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or beliefs. Principal Financial has not lobbied for ideological purposes. For these reasons, Principal Financial receives a Medium Risk rating.