United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas, recently appointed by President Trump, has publicly urged white men to report workplace discrimination, signaling a notable shift in emphasis in federal civil‑rights enforcement messaging. This development comes amid broader Trump administration efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
While Ms. Lucas has stated that the agency will focus on protecting “all” workers from discrimination, her social media post on X from December 17 focused on white men as a group that should feel empowered to file complaints when they believe they have been treated unfairly because of their race or sex. These comments align with recent executive orders directing federal agencies to deprioritize disparate‑impact theories of discrimination and target what the administration terms “illegal DEI” and “race‑ or sex‑based preferences.”
Employers should anticipate a potential increase in discrimination claims by white male employees, including challenges to hiring, promotion, and termination decisions. While the administration is seeking to limit disparate‑impact enforcement and DEI programs, longstanding statutory prohibitions on discrimination based on race, sex, and other protected characteristics remain in effect, and private plaintiffs – including white men – can still pursue such claims in court.
Employers should take practical steps in light of the EEOC’s shifting enforcement priorities by reviewing hiring, promotion, and compensation practices – including goals, targets, and informal practices – to ensure they are grounded in neutral, job-related, and merit-based criteria. Policies or practices that could be characterized as creating race- or sex-based preferences may draw increased scrutiny, even as the broader legal framework governing workplace discrimination remains unchanged.
If you have questions about these developments or would like guidance on reviewing your employment practices, please contact Susanna Fultz or any member of the Barley Snyder Employment Practice Group.
