Updated · NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund · Jun 1
EEOC Seeks to Repeal 1960s Anti-Discrimination Rule, Drawing LDF Condemnation
Updated
Updated · NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund · Jun 1
EEOC Seeks to Repeal 1960s Anti-Discrimination Rule, Drawing LDF Condemnation
1 articles · Updated · NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund · Jun 1
The EEOC this week sent the White House a proposal to scrap a decades-old interpretive rule that backs employers using affirmative-action plans consistent with Title VII and Supreme Court precedent.
LDF said the move would create confusion for employers and discourage lawful efforts to remove workplace barriers for Black workers, women, LGBTQ+ people and other protected groups.
The civil-rights group argued rescinding the rule would not change existing law or bar employers from broad recruitment, training, or removing non-job-related requirements to expand equal opportunity.
LDF also said the agency appears to be bypassing the usual notice-and-comment process, framing the proposal as part of a broader Trump administration push against diversity and anti-discrimination tools.
As the EEOC redefines fairness, what does workplace equality now mean for American businesses?
With affirmative action guidance gone, are 'colorblind' hiring policies the only safe option for US employers?
Trump’s 2025 Executive Orders on DEI: The End of Affirmative Action for Federal Contractors and the New Legal Risks for Employers
Overview
On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump issued the executive order 'Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,' which immediately revoked Executive Order 11246 and ended affirmative action requirements for federal contractors. This marked a major shift in federal employment policy, introducing new compliance mandates that require contractors to certify adherence to federal anti-discrimination laws. The order not only changed the rules for federal contractors but also signaled broader implications for the private sector, prompting businesses to review their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to avoid legal risks and align with the new federal stance.