News & Analysis as of

Title VII › Enforcement Actions › Diversity and Inclusion Standards (D&I)

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is a United States federal law enacted in 1964 and aimed at preventing discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, and religion. Title VII... more +
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act is a United States federal law enacted in 1964 and aimed at preventing discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, and religion. Title VII has been subsequently extended to discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and sexual stereotypes and to prohibit sexual harassment. Title VII applies to all employers with fifteen or more employees including private employers, state and local governments, and educational institutions.  less -
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

Recipients of Federal Funds Directed to Align Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practices with Department of Justice Guidance

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On July 29, 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi released new guidance to federal agencies and all recipients of federal funds, “clarifying” how anti-discrimination laws will be enforced going forward. The memorandum...more

Robinson & Cole LLP

DOJ Issues Sweeping Guidance on Unlawful Discrimination for Federal Funding Recipients

Robinson & Cole LLP on

On July 31, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued guidance to all federal agencies concerning the prohibition of discrimination based on protected characteristics—such as race, sex, religion, or national origin—in...more

Miller Nash LLP

U.S. Department of Justice Issues New Administrative Guidance on Legality of DEI Programs for Federal Contractors

Miller Nash LLP on

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has now issued guidance outlining how federal antidiscrimination laws such as Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 apply to federal contractors that receive federal funding. ...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

Understanding DOJ’s New Guidance on Unlawful Discriminatory Practices

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On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a memorandum titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (the “Memo”), providing guidance on what diversity, equity,...more

Baker Donelson

DOJ Attempts to Define Illegal DEI: Warning Recipients of Federal Funds to Take Notice

Baker Donelson on

In our previous Baker Donelson client alerts, we examined the emerging compliance and enforcement risks stemming from the January 21, 2025 Executive Order 14173 "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

DOJ Issues Sweeping Guidance on "Illegal DEI": Key Legal Risks and Compliance Priorities for Federal Funds Recipients

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On July 29, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued updated guidance setting forth the administration’s position on how federal antidiscrimination laws—including Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and...more

K&L Gates LLP

DOJ Guidance Aims to Clarify "Illegal DEI," Raising the Stakes for Potential Investigations and Enforcement

K&L Gates LLP on

Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum on 29 July 2025 titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (Memorandum) that provides new, detailed guidance on a key question that had...more

Epstein Becker & Green

From Best Practices to Enforcement: Decoding DOJ’s July 29 Anti-Discrimination Guidance

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On July 29, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memorandum to all federal agencies providing guidance addressing “unlawful discrimination” on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected...more

Wiley Rein LLP

DOJ Clarifies Administration’s Stance on What Constitutes “Illegal DEI”

Wiley Rein LLP on

On July 29, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a memorandum titled “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” (the Memorandum) that provides clarity on what the...more

Ice Miller

Anti-DEI Enforcement Takes Shape: DOJ and States Apply New Vision of Civil Rights

Ice Miller on

At the beginning of the second Trump administration, the President and Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated they would use the levers of government to end DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies and programs. The...more

Littler

Senate Committee Questions DOL, EEOC Nominees

Littler on

On June 18, 2025, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions held a hearing to consider four key nominations for leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

Executive Agencies Confirm Demise of OFCCP and Identify Private Sector Enforcement Targets

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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Labor released their 2026 Congressional Budget Justifications (CBJ) on May 30, 2025, providing valuable information related to the EEOC’s enforcement...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

EEOC Acting Director Warns No ‘Diversity Exception’ to Title VII in Announcing EEO-1 Reporting Period Opening

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On May 20, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) opened the platform for employers to submit EEO-1 reports. In doing so, EEOC Acting Director Andrea Lucas warned employers not to use the data to take...more

Lathrop GPM

Federal Agencies Issue Guidance Identifying DEI Policies and Practices That May Be Unlawful

Lathrop GPM on

Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) issued guidance that aims to educate the public about conduct and programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)...more

Littler

Annual Report on EEOC Developments: Fiscal Year 2024 - An Annual Report on EEOC Charges, Litigation, Regulatory Developments and...

Littler on

INTRODUCTION - This Annual Report on EEOC Developments—Fiscal Year 2024 (hereafter “Report”), our fourteenth annual publication, is designed as a comprehensive guide to significant Equal Employment Opportunity Commission...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Former DOL Officials Urge Federal Contractors to Continue Lawful Diversity Practices Despite Trump Administration’s Efforts to End...

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on

On April 15, 2025, a group of former U.S. Department of Labor officials issued an “open letter” urging federal contractors to continue voluntary diversity practices, including conducting self-assessments, despite the Trump...more

Cozen O'Connor

Big Law’s DEI Practices Face Scrutiny by Republican AGs and the EEOC

Cozen O'Connor on

A group of 12 Republican AGs announced that they have sent a letter to multiple law firms (collectively, “law firms”) warning that the law firms’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and practices may violate state...more

Zuckerman Spaeder LLP

What Is Illegal DEI? Employers and Workers Are Still Looking for Answers

Zuckerman Spaeder LLP on

Five years ago, companies were eager to adopt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Now, the pendulum has swung in the other direction. DEI programs are under attack, and employers are trying to figure out what...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

New EEOC Guidance Creates DEI Compliance Considerations for Employers

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on

On March 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), together with the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), issued a press release cautioning employers against discrimination arising from diversity,...more

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

EEOC Pronounces Its Position on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs in Response to President Trump's Executive Orders

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP on

On the heels of President Trumps Executive Orders signaling the administration’s intent to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal and private sector, the EEOC has issued two technical...more

Epstein Becker & Green

#WorkforceWednesday®: EEOC/DOJ Joint DEI Guidance, EEOC Letters to Law Firms, OFCCP Retroactive DEI Enforcement - Employment Law...

Epstein Becker & Green on

This week, we highlight new guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-related discrimination. We also examine the Acting EEOC...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

EEOC and DOJ Increase Scrutiny on Employer Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs and Practices

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On March 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released two “technical assistance” documents clarifying the Trump Administration’s position on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the...more

Perkins Coie

Unpacking the Joint EEOC and DOJ Guidance on “DEI-Related Discrimination”

Perkins Coie on

On March 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released joint “technical assistance documents” (a one-page document titled “What To Do if You Experience...more

Weintraub Tobin

The DOJ and EEOC Move Forward with Enforcement of the President’s Executive Order 14173 (the “Anti-DEI Order”)

Weintraub Tobin on

Shortly after taking office, President Trump signed Executive Order 14173 (“Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity”) commonly referred to as the “Anti-DEI Order” (hereinafter simply referred to as...more

Conn Maciel Carey LLP

EEOC Shifts Focus to “DEI-Related Discrimination”: What It Means for Title VII Enforcement

Conn Maciel Carey LLP on

The EEOC has recently issued new guidance signaling a marked shift in its enforcement priorities: a heightened focus on “diversity, equity, and inclusion-related discrimination.” While the foundational legal framework of...more

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