For much of 2025 and early 2026, federal contractors have watched the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) become unusually quiet. Compliance reviews stopped. Enforcement activity nearly disappeared. The contractor portal was shut down, and the agency’s future was publicly questioned. That is why the most recent appropriations news is significant: OFCCP has now…
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On Dec. 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), alleging unlawful race- and sex-based employment practices embedded in the district’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). According to the complaint, MPS prioritized teachers who belonged to “underrepresented populations,” set explicit numerical staffing goals for “BIPOC” employees, and…
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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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To remain compliant and competitive under EO 14173, federal contractors should take immediate steps to realign their policies, data practices, and contracting procedures with the new merit-based framework. The first step is to map your organization’s federal exposure. Identify all contracts, subcontracts, and grants, both prime and sub, with federal agencies, including any flow-down obligations….
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In her recent remarks, former OFCCP Director Catherine Eschbach emphasized that the compliance environment for federal contractors is undergoing a profound transformation under Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” She explained that this order establishes a “whole-of-government approach” to identifying and eliminating unlawful DEI practices, meaning that oversight will no longer…
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