Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines allegedly kicked passengers off a flight for voicing support for Trump following the January 6th protest. The company claims all actions were taken for the “safety and security of [its] operations” (1). The company terminated its discount program for NRA members due to gun control activism (2). In January 2025, The company’s Chief Legal Officer Peter Carter stated the company will not rethink its Sustainability and DEI commitments: “Sustainability is about being more efficient in our operations. And really DE&I is about talent, and that’s been our focus” (3). The company integrates ESG into its business practices. From its 2024 Supplier Code of Conduct: “We expect suppliers to:… Reduce greenhouse gas emissions wherever feasible” (4).

Delta’s HRC 2025 CEI rating indicates the company will not donate to non-religious charities unless they embrace controversial sexual identity policies (1)(2). The company does not appear to discriminate against religious organizations based on views or beliefs. The company’s charitable giving focus areas are environment, equity, education, entire wellness global and diversity (3).

Delta appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring. From its Delta Air Lines: 2023 ESG Report: “Increase qualified hires and improve equitable outcomes for talent within underrepresented racial and ethnic groups” (1). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its recruitment. From its Delta Air Lines: 2023 ESG Report: “Forming new recruiting partnerships with organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+, veteran and disabled talent” (2). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its leadership composition. From its Corporate Governance Principles: “The Corporate Governance Committee and the Board assess potential nominees (including incumbent directors) based on factors such as the individual’s character, judgment, diversity (including with respect to background, skills, experience, age, gender, race and ethnicity)” (3). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its supply chain. From its Supplier Diversity page: “To maximize returns to Delta customers, shareholders, employees, and the communities in which we operate, Delta seeks to utilize the products and services of qualified small, minority, and women-owned businesses” (4). The company appears to prioritize diversity over merit in its mentorship program. From its Delta Air Lines: 2023 ESG Report: “Our equity-focused model aims to create a more equitable workforce and enrich the careers of all employees by increasing access to higher-earning career opportunities through targeted development, skill upgrading and mentorship programs” (5). The company is an affirmative action employer: “[Delta] is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals” (6). The company does not provide viewpoint protections for its employees (7).

Delta Air Lines signed an open letter endorsing the Equality Act, a contentious proposal to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act by adding sexual orientation and so-called gender identity as protected categories. The legislation would, among other implications, grant biological men access to women-only spaces such as sports teams and public restrooms, and compel healthcare providers to deliver sex-denying healthcare (1). In 2021, The company’s CEO Ed Bastian publicly praised Georgia’s voting integrity legislation, only to walk back his statement after receiving extensive criticism from advocacy groups. Bastian later released a statement saying that “the final bill is unacceptable and does not match Delta’s values” (2). The company’s CEO Ed Bastian signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge, which includes a commitment to promote DEI through bias education training in the workplace, strategize on DEI programs/initiatives with other signatories, and engage boards of directors when developing and evaluating DEI strategies (3)(4). The company’s CEO, Ed Bastian, is a member of the Business Roundtable, which supports stakeholder capitalism over traditional shareholder obligations (5). The company supports DEI within its business practices, employing a DEI Officer (6). The company supports DEI within its business practices. From its CEO, Ed Bastian: “Thoughtful action combined with a focus on championing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and within our personal lives will play a healing role to help us keep climbing. The Delta family will use whatever means we have to move the world toward a better, more just tomorrow” (7). The company supports ESG within its business practices. From its Delta Air Lines: 2023 ESG Report: “At Delta, we are committed to transparently communicating how we identify, prioritize and approach the ESG topics that are most relevant to our business, customers, employees and investors” (8). The company’s DEI officer revoked the ‘ladies and gentleman’ gate announcements to push for gender inclusivity (9). In the wake of backlash against DEI, the company stopped mentioning its black leadership goal in its annual 10-K filing. The company said a shift in language doesn’t mean changes in DEI commitments (10). In February 2025, when President Trump signed executive orders opposing DEI, Delta refused to scale back its DEI programs, stating “We are steadfast in our commitments because we think that they are actually critical to our business” (11)(12). The company used to publish racial and gender representation graphs on its DEI page, stating “Closing the Gap focuses on narrowing the representation gaps between frontline level employees and other levels of Delta Air Line employees.” After being called out for it on social media, the company removed the graphs from its website (13)(14)(15). The company was committed to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (16). However, in April 2026, the company “deleted its ‌pledge to use sustainable aviation fuel for 10% of its jet fuel by 2030, the report said, adding that the ​airline has also rephrased its quest to achieve ​net-zero emissions by 2050 as an ‘aspiration,’ rather than ⁠a ‘goal’” (17)(18)(19). The company scored a 25 out of 100 on the 2025 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group (20)(21). Delta scored a 35 out of 100 on the 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), a political stakeholder group (22)(23).

Delta is a Gold Tier corporate sponsor of the Trevor Project, an organization that advocates for controversial sex and gender ideology, including “gender transition” drugs and surgeries for minors, through legislation, litigation, advertising, and PR campaigns. The organization also hosts online chatrooms that allow adults to communicate with minors as young as 13 about sexually explicit topics. Adults in these chatrooms have encouraged minors to adopt transgender identities and withhold this information from their parents (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). The company is a corporate partner of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (6). In 2018, the company donated $250,000 to Everytown for Gun Safety (7). The company is a coalition member of OneTen, appearing to prioritize diversity over merit in its hiring (8)(9)(10). The company funds National Urban League (11). The company funds “the LGBTQ+ community by sponsoring 12 Pride celebrations around the world” (12). The company is a partner of GLAAD (13). Delta is a Gold Sponsor of NYC Pride (14). Delta sponsored the following 6 events in 2025: WorldPride 2025, Utah Pride, Out! Raleigh Pride, Motor City Pride, Cincinnati Pride, 2025 Utah Pride (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Otherwise, there are no publicly known cases of the company using corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (20).

In 2022, Delta Air Lines lobbied for the Respect for Marriage Act (1). In 2021, 2022 the company lobbied for the Clean Energy for America Act (2)(3). The company has not used its PAC donations for ideological purposes (4)(5).