Enforcement Begins: Inside the EEOC’s post-EO 14173 Settlements

When Executive Order 14173 was issued in January 2025, many employers assumed that the revocation of Executive Order 11246 marked the end of federal oversight of affirmative action and diversity initiatives. Eight months later, that assumption has been proven dangerously wrong. While the structure of oversight has changed, enforcement has not disappeared. It has shifted….
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DOJ Releases Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination

On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released long-anticipated guidance clarifying what federal law requires and prohibits when it comes to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. While some may have expected a sweeping overhaul, the DOJ’s message was straightforward: employment decisions must be rooted in merit-based criteria, not identity-based preferences. …
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EEOC Cracking Down on Age Discrimination Cases

In recent months, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has settled several large age discrimination complaints totaling millions of dollars in fines, fees, penalties, and payments to those affected. In fact, the EEOC has announced that age discrimination is one of the priorities identified in its new Strategic Enforcement Plan. Most recently, on December 19,…
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