two recent moves by the Labor Department imply that private equity funds ought to be more welcome in 401(k) accounts all over America, while so-called E.S.G. mutual funds — those that focus on environmental, sustainability and governance factors — should be treated more cautiously than they are now. These Labor Department regulations are curious in their own right. They allow private equity investments in workplace retirement plans and restrict E.S.G. investing in the same plans. Taken together — along with federal rulings that weaken certain investor protections and make waging proxy fights harder — it is clear that millions of working people have endured setbacks in their retirement plans recently, even if they don’t yet realize it.

How 2 Labor Dept. Rules Can Undermine Your Retirement Plans – The New York Times