Context and background

Human rights, civic space, democratic institutions and the rule of law are under mounting pressure globally and in the US. In an October 2025 poll, 84% of senior business leaders reported being “very or somewhat concerned about the current political and legal climate’s impact on their companies” (p. 4). This analysis updates BHRC’s November 2025 findings and reveals a more mixed corporate picture in practice.

A note on methodology

BHRC conducted two surveys in April 2026: one of 85 individuals who had left or lost human rights-related positions, and one of 54 top US companies on changes to human rights programmes, of which 13 responded (p. 7).

Pathway 1: Big oil and big tech are aggressively pursuing deregulation

Fossil fuel companies — including Chevron, ExxonMobil and Koch, Inc. — allegedly worked through a “Competitiveness Roundtable” to undermine the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, with key provisions removed and coverage “drastically reduced.” In the US, fossil fuel firms lobbied for bills to criminalise opposition, building on legislation enacted in 19 states. A North Dakota jury found Greenpeace liable linked to Dakota Access Pipeline protests, resulting in a USD345m judgment (p. 8). Utah became the first state to enact climate liability immunity, followed by Tennessee, Oklahoma and Iowa.

Tech companies lobby globally while enabling surveillance technologies used against activists. Only 7% of the world’s population lives in liberal democracies (p. 10).

Pathway 2: A silent retreat

Of 13 company respondents, five reported reduced human rights staff — one by close to 30% (p. 12) — and three reported decreased budgets, one by 40% (p. 3). Nearly three quarters of individuals who recently left US companies reported their former employer had cut human rights staff by more than 20% (p. 13), with one reporting a 50–75% budget reduction at a large multinational semiconductor company (p. 13). Among 26 consultancy respondents, 62% reported staff decreases of 20% or more (p. 13) and nearly 70% cited regulatory changes as a driver (p. 13).

One ESG data provider estimated human rights staffing had declined by 90% (p. 15); a European bank reported a 93% decrease (p. 16). The Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries — representing Cargill, ADM and Bunge — withdrew from the Amazon Soy Moratorium; reports estimate deforestation may rise by 30% (p. 12). None of the 25 apparel buyers contacted by BHRC responded on sourcing changes or labour impacts (p. 18). Sustainability reports among Russell 3000 companies fell by 17% in 2025 (p. 19), while Fortune 500 Corporate Equality Index submissions fell 65%, from 377 to 131 participants (p. 20).

Pathway 3: Staying the course

Of 13 company respondents, eight reported team size holding steady or increasing and ten reported budgets stable or growing (p. 12). Several 2026 benchmarks confirm most assessed US companies have maintained human rights commitments. An October 2025 poll found over a third (36%) of business leaders felt uncomfortable expressing public views on government policy (p. 22), though some companies have spoken out in defence of the rule of law.

Where next?

BHRC identifies durable counter-forces — including growing legal accountability, investor expectations, and community opposition — driving long-term respect for rights. The report recommends supporting companies holding firm, exposing those silently retreating, and countering those working to dilute human rights protections.