Veterans caught in the middle on anti-DEI efforts, research says

Posted by News Room 16 September 2026
Veterans caught in the middle on anti-DEI efforts, research says

Dive Brief:

  • Even employers that are vocal about veteran inclusion may not be showing up in terms of hiring, giving efforts, and support for this population at work, according to a Rand study on the American workplace’s attitude toward veterans. “Companies with stronger veteran disclosures do not consistently direct more foundation giving to veteran causes or report higher protected veteran hiring rates,” Rand said in a Sept. 9 statement. 
  • Rand data analysis also indicates that veteran hiring is low among top companies: While the national benchmark is 5.1%, S&P contractors’ share of 2025 veteran new hires was 2.4%.
  • While championing veterans generally attracts bipartisan support, the President Donald Trump administration’s attack on diversity, equity and inclusion may have hurt veteran belonging in the process, Rand determined. 

Dive Insight:

Due to the sociopolitical climate, Rand researchers suspected, regulatory disclosures declined “sharply” this year and last year — despite federal protections for veteran hiring remaining unscathed. Many previously housed veteran worker programs under their DEI umbrella and drew on DEI resources, researchers found in its case studies. 

For employers looking to add more veterans to their talent pool, numerous experts have emphasized the importance of not taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Back in 2023, a SHRM Talent speaker highlighted the importance of building out a holistic environment for veteran talent when they enter the private sector. 

If employers hire but don’t have the infrastructure to support veterans in the workplace, the opportunity can ring hollow, the speaker said. Nearly half of veterans leave their first civilian job within their first year, one advocacy organization said.

One executive at the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association previously told HR Dive that people professionals should remember that, like civilians, veterans’ lived experiences vary. She told HR professionals to look at the veteran aspect of an ex-military person’s identity as more than a checked box.