07:14 AM EST, 01/13/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Apple's ( AAPL ) board of directors urged investors to vote against a shareholder proposal seeking to eliminate the company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, according to a proxy filing from the company late Friday.

The company said the National Center for Public Policy intends to submit the proposal at the annual meeting, arguing that Apple's ( AAPL ) Inclusion & Diversity program posed potential legal, reputational, and financial risks.

Apple ( AAPL ) said the company already has a well-established compliance program, and the proposal inappropriately attempts to restrict its ability to manage its business operations. As such, the proposal is "unnecessary," the company said.