Costco has doubled down on its woke diversity policies, but Republicans are hoping the company will reconsider.

Nineteen GOP attorneys general, led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, urged the retail giant to end the “unlawful discrimination imposed by the company through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.”

“Although Costco’s motto is ’do the right thing,’ it appears that the company is doing the wrong thing — clinging to DEI policies that courts and businesses have rejected as illegal,” said the Monday letter to Costco President and CEO Ron Vachris.

Costco shareholders voted overwhelmingly at the company’s annual meeting Thursday to reject a shareholder proposal to evaluate the financial risks posed by its DEI initiatives, but the state Republicans urged the company to reconsider.

“Costco should treat every person equally and based on their merit, rather than based on divisive and discriminatory DEI practices,” the letter said. “That reflects President Trump’s executive order encouraging ‘the Private Sector to End Illegal DEI discrimination and Preferences.’”

Mr. Trump issued an executive order Jan. 22 that “directs all departments and agencies to take strong action to end private sector DEI discrimination, including civil compliance investigations.”

The attorneys general noted that the “federal government is also focusing on ensuring invidious race-based discrimination no longer finds a home in woke corporations.”

Costco’s pro-diversity stance comes in stark contrast to the DEI retreat underway at many prominent retailers, including Walmart, McDonald’s, Target and John Deere.

“Costco’s position runs contrary to the Supreme Court’s recent decisions and raises concerns about Costco’s compliance with State and federal laws,” the letter warned.

The free-market group Consumers’ Research issued a woke alert last week on Costco, citing Chief Diversity Officer Alison Francis’ membership in Washington Employers for Racial Equality and comments such as “diversity is our sustainability.”

“Costco is on a senseless mission to insult and antagonize its customers nationwide,” said Will Held, Consumers’ Research executive director. “Its stubborn devotion to racist and outdated DEI practices not only hurts consumers, investors, and employees but also may be downright illegal.”

He said the attorneys general are “absolutely right to hold Costco accountable for openly embracing discrimination.”

Others have backed Costco’s pro-DEI stance. Civil-rights activist Al Sharpton led a “buy-in” march Saturday inside an East Harlem store with about 100 members of his National Action Network.

“At a time when DEI is under attack from President Trump and others in the private sector, Costco has stood firm, proving that doing the right thing is also smart business,” said Mr. Sharpton on X.

• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.