As the sun sets on Executive Order 11246, a landmark directive that shaped affirmative action compliance for nearly 60 years, a new chapter in civil rights enforcement begins. Executive Order 14173, signed early in 2025, represents a fundamental shift—from mandate-driven affirmative action for women and minorities to a universal, merit-based approach to nondiscrimination for all…
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When Sapphire Tech, a mid-sized federal contractor in the heart of Colorado, set out to redesign its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), it wasn’t in response to a crisis or a public relations need. It was driven by a simple but bold vision: to create a workplace where every American could thrive regardless…
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Recently, a House Representative claimed that affirmative action “divides us.” This statement not only misrepresents the intent and impact of affirmative action but also ignores the painful history that made such policies necessary in the first place. Affirmative action was not born out of a desire to divide Americans—it was born out of a national…
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July 2, 2025, marks the 61st anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a historic piece of legislation that reshaped the American workplace, legal system, and society at large. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Civil Rights Act was a monumental achievement of the civil rights movement and a crucial step…
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The newly appointed Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has sent an email, June 27, 2025, inviting federal contractors to voluntarily report how they have wound down their compliance with Executive Order (EO) 11246. The letter asserts that EO 11246 encouraged discriminatory practices such as race- or sex-based quotas and implies…
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