For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Christian Employers Alliance (CEA), representing more than 22,000 faith-based CEOs across all 50 states, today called on the Trump Administration to take action following the State of Texas’s lawsuit against Xcel Energy, which was filed after an investigation into the company’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices.
CEA noted that President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have made confronting unlawful DEI practices and enforcing civil rights laws a high priority, particularly where federal funds are involved.
“We are proud to have helped shine a light on Xcel Energy’s conduct and to have stood shoulder to shoulder with the ranchers and families affected,” said Margaret Iuculano, President of CEA. “We applaud Attorney General Ken Paxton and the State of Texas for standing up for ranchers who suffered devastating losses. However, this lawsuit alone does not deliver justice directly to the victims. We are hopeful this litigation will finally open Xcel Energy’s eyes to the devastation its negligence has caused and compel the company to step up and fulfill its promise – to compensate victims swiftly and fairly. Families and ranchers across Texas have waited far too long for justice. It’s time for Xcel to stop the delays, take responsibility, and bring real relief to those whose livelihoods were destroyed.”
According to the complaint, the State alleges damages exceeding $1 billion, and the lawsuit was brought under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which allows for treble damages if the claims are proven.
The Texas wildfire followed the Marshall Fire in Colorado, also the largest wildfire in that state’s history, for which Xcel Energy accepted responsibility. CEA has raised concerns regarding Xcel’s DEI and ESG governance and whether those priorities may have detracted from core wildfire prevention and grid reliability responsibilities.
Notably, Xcel Energy stated in its own press release that approximately eight months prior to the Texas fire, the company directed federal wildfire mitigation and grid resiliency funds to “underserved communities” and detailed how the funding “will support greater resilience for communities of color.” The use of taxpayer-funded wildfire mitigation resources for racially defined initiatives raises serious questions under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in federally funded programs.
“Given President Trump and Attorney General Bondi’s stated commitment to enforcing civil rights laws and pushing back on unlawful DEI practices, we urge the Administration to review whether federal funds were used consistent with Title VI,” Iuculano added. “We also encourage attorneys general in other states where Xcel operates – especially Oklahoma, which was impacted by the same fire – to launch investigations to determine whether residents in their states were similarly harmed.”
Media inquiries: media@christianemployersalliance.org