The New Rules: How Federal Contractor Certification Changed Twice in 18 Months

“VERIFY BEFORE YOU CERTIFY” — 3-MINUTE BRIEF, PART 1 OF 4 A quick-read series on how federal contractors certify nondiscrimination today. This brief: what changed, and why. Federal contractors don’t certify nondiscrimination through a single document anymore. As of 2026, compliance runs through three separate layers — and this series breaks down exactly what each…
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EO 14173 Enforcement Trends to Watch in 2026

As 2026 approaches, the compliance landscape shaped by Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” is entering a more enforcement-focused phase. Based on the recent HR Unlimited Roundtable with former OFCCP and EEOC leaders, federal contractors must brace for a dramatic and high-stakes shift in anti-discrimination enforcement in 2026. The focus is…
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EO 14173: The Future of Civil Rights Enforcement for Federal Contractors

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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