U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Andrea Lucas on Thursday issued a letter to the CEOs, general counsels and board chairs of 500 of the largest U.S. employers warning them about their obligations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in regard to programs and policies “labeled as ‘DEI’ or other euphemisms.”
“I urge Corporate America to reject identity politics as its solution to society’s ills. The only lawful way to stop discrimination on the basis of race or sex, is to stop discriminating on the basis of race or sex,” Lucas said in a statement. “Hiring workers based on their merit, excellence, and character — not skin color or sex — is the right thing to do and benefits employers and employees alike.”
The letter underscores the Trump administration’s stance on “unlawful discrimination” related to diversity, equity and inclusion at work.
Lucas said efforts to promote group rights over those of individuals “twist our nation’s civil rights laws.”
EEOC will use “all statutory tools” to meet its goals, including education, compliance, the administrative enforcement process and litigation, per the letter.
“In October 2025, the Commission regained its quorum, empowering it to bring all types of cases in federal court, including systemic cases; pattern and practice lawsuits; and other large-scale litigation,” Lucas wrote.
Under Lucas’ leadership, EEOC has focused on reverse discrimination; the chair specifically solicited White men in December to report instances of workplace discrimination.
Last year, EEOC issued letters threatening to investigate the DEI diversity practices of 20 major law firms, an effort that was challenged in court as being outside of the agency’s authority.
