Eeoc Chief Shift Focus To Investigating Dei But Her Methods Provoke Outcries

The acting chief of the top federal agency for protecting worker rights has signaled a pivot toward prioritizing President Donald Trump's campaign to stamp out diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the private and public sectors.

The initial steps taking by Andrea Lucas, acting chief of the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, have earned her strong backing from the Trump administration, which has moved against DEI through embattled executive orders that dismantled programs at federal agencies and threatened investigations and stiff financial penalties for federal contractors that engage in "illegal" diversity-related practices. Trump recently nominated Lucas to a new five-year term as commissioner.

But former Democratic EEOC officials and prominent civil rights groups have accused Lucas of taking shortcuts that supersede her authority and they have urged employers to be wary of her directives and guidance, if not altogether ignore them.

The most recent flashpoint involves two "technical assistance" documents issued by the EEOC along with the Department of Justice attempting to clarify what might constitute "DEI-related Discrimination at Work" and providing guidance on how workers can file complaints over such concerns.

The documents take broad aim at practices such as training, employment resources group and fellowship programs, warning such programs - depending on how they're constructed - could run afoul of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race and gender.