EEOC Proposes Ending Affirmative Action Rules, Impacting DEI Strategies
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is proposing to rescind longstanding affirmative action rules, which could significantly impact diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies in private employment. Established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC has historically used EEO-1 data to identify and address employment discrimination. This data collection has been instrumental in securing settlements worth billions for workers facing discrimination. However, under President Trump's administration, the EEOC is seeking to end this data collection and eliminate a 1979 regulation that allowed employers to address race and gender imbalances. Andrea Lucas, the Trump-appointed chair of the EEOC, has expressed that programs aimed at specific groups may be unlawful if they exclude others. The proposals have been submitted to the White House for review. 
