EEOC & DOJ’s Warning on DEI Marks a Turning Point for Federal Contractors Under EO 14173

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a joint warning that could reshape how employers, including federal contractors, approach Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The message was unmistakable: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination based on race, sex, or any other protected characteristic,…
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DOJ’s Case Against Epik Solutions Signals a Wake-Up Call for Federal Contractors in the EO 14173 Era

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a clear message with its announcement of a settlement with Epik Solutions, a California-based technology recruiting firm. The company was found to have violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by unlawfully preferring foreign H-1B workers over qualified U.S. applicants, a discriminatory practice that cost the firm nearly…
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$8.1M False Claims Act Settlement Underscores EO 14173 Risks: Noncompliance Now Carries a Heavier Price

March 25, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced an $8.1 million settlement with Evolutions Flooring Inc., a California-based importer of multilayered wood flooring, and its owners, for violating the False Claims Act (FCA). The company was accused of knowingly evading millions in customs duties on imports from China, providing false information…
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Why Pausing Nondiscrimination Practices is a Costly Mistake

  For Federal Contractors, EO 14173 Raises the Stakes—and Continuing EO 11246 Practices Protects Your Bottom Line When Executive Order 11246 was revoked and replaced with EO 14173, some federal contractors—especially those under private equity ownership—interpreted the shift as a green light to pause their long-standing nondiscrimination practices. This would be a critical misstep. Not…
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March 24 Marks a Turning Point in Enforcement: EEOC Hits Hard, OFCCP Reloads with New Director

On March 24, 2025, the landscape of workplace compliance took a sharp turn. In one day, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced three major enforcement actions, totaling over $1 million in settlements, while the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) appointed Catherine Eschbach as its new director. This alignment is more than…
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