The Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, was cited in a Fox News article for a report released earlier this year which estimated that DEI mandates at public universities impose a tax burden of nearly $2 billion on taxpayers. This analysis is being used to challenge progressive diversity policies.

Following the University of Michigan's decision to shutter its DEI office in response to Trump's executive orders and funding uncertainties, the Goldwater Institute issued a statement praising the move and urging the elimination of DEI requirements from academic curricula, arguing that such measures would restore intellectual integrity.

The Goldwater Institute successfully petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court to amend rules that allowed the State Bar to force lawyers to pay membership dues used for lobbying activities. This legal victory reinforces attorneys' First Amendment rights by preventing compelled financial support for political causes.

On August 10, 2024, the Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit challenging the practice of providing 'release time' subsidies to public-sector union employees in Phoenix. The lawsuit argued that taxpayer funds were being used to support union activities that do not serve a genuine public purpose, a move that critics say undermines workers’ rights and the role of unions in protecting labor interests.

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the practice of union 'release time'—where government employees are paid to work exclusively for unions—violates the state's constitutional ban on government subsidies. The Goldwater Institute, acting on behalf of taxpayers and city employees, challenged the city of Phoenix's memorandum of understanding with a local union, arguing that it forced taxpayers to fund union political activities with no public benefit.

The Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, initiated a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court on behalf of an ASU professor who refused to complete the mandated 'Inclusive Communities' DEI training. The complaint argues that the training, which covers topics such as sexual identities, white supremacy, and microaggressions, violates state law by using public funds to promote what the Institute describes as 'racism under the guise of DEI.'

On March 20, 2024, the Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Superior Court on behalf of an Arizona State University professor who refused to complete a mandated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training. The complaint argues that the training—which covers topics such as sexual identities, white supremacy, and microaggressions—violates state law and free speech protections, a claim rooted in a broader conservative backlash against DEI initiatives.

The Goldwater Institute sent a letter to the Phoenix City Council urging the repeal of a prevailing wage ordinance, arguing it was burdensome for businesses and would defend Americans’ economic freedom. The Council subsequently repealed the ordinance, an action that has raised concerns about diminished labor protections.

On March 2, 2023, the Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit against the City of Phoenix, accusing the city of concealing union negotiation documents which, according to the Institute, are critical to public oversight and accountability in government spending.

On March 2, 2023, the Goldwater Institute initiated legal action against the City of Phoenix, demanding the release of union negotiation records deemed public under Arizona law. The suit challenges the city's and the union's closed-door practices in handling taxpayer-funded negotiations, arguing that transparency is essential for accountability in public spending.