{"id":10193,"date":"2025-08-01T19:28:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T19:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=10193"},"modified":"2026-02-04T12:16:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:16:14","slug":"doj-2025-dei-guidance","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/inclusion-belonging\/doj-2025-dei-guidance\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ warns federal contractors about DEI practices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b5fc8583 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8e1436f2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">\n<p class=\"\">by <strong>Emily Scace<\/strong>, <strong>JD<\/strong>, Brightmine Senior Legal Editor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a guidance document providing examples of workplace programs and practices it considers to constitute unlawful discrimination in the guise of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/dei\/\">diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">While officially aimed at federal contractors and other organizations receiving federal funds, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/ag\/media\/1409486\/dl?inline=&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guidance<\/a> provides insight into the DOJ&#8217;s current interpretation of discrimination law in ways relevant to private employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">DEI programs have been under increased scrutiny since President Trump took office in January 2025, with multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/trump-executive-orders-2025-quick-reference-chart\/\">execut<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/trump-executive-orders-2025-quick-reference-chart\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">i<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/trump-executive-orders-2025-quick-reference-chart\/\">ve orders<\/a> targeting &#8220;illegal DEI and DEIA policies.&#8221; The latest DOJ guidance bears many similarities to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eeoc.gov\/wysk\/what-you-should-know-about-dei-related-discrimination-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)<\/a> in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practices that may violate antidiscrimination law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">According to the DOJ guidance, &#8220;the use of terms such as &#8216;DEI,&#8217; &#8216;Equity,&#8217; or other euphemistic terms does not excuse unlawful discrimination or absolve parties from scrutiny regarding potential violations.&#8221; The following practices, it states, may violate federal antidiscrimination laws:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\">Hiring or promotion practices that prioritize candidates from underrepresented groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Access to facilities or resources based on race, ethnicity or another protected characteristic (with an exception for sex-separated spaces such as restrooms and locker rooms)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Use of unlawful proxies for protected characteristics, which may include:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">&#8220;Cultural competence&#8221; requirements for job applicants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Recruitment strategies that target specific geographic areas or organizations because of their demographic composition rather than other legitimate factors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Required diversity statements and similar narratives likely to elicit responses tied to protected characteristics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Training programs that require participants to separate into race- or ethnicity-based groups for discussions or exclude or penalize individuals based on protected characteristics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Hiring policies that require interviewing a diverse slate of candidates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Programs that use race, sex or another protected characteristic as a selection criterion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">DOJ recommendations to avoid discrimination<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The guidance recommends the following best practices to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/solutions\/hr-compliance\/\">minimize the risk of violating discrimination laws<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\">Open all workplace programs, activities and resources to all qualified individuals, regardless of protected characteristics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Base selection decisions on specific, measurable skills and qualifications directly related to job performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Discontinue the use of demographic criteria and goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Document clear, legitimate, nondiscriminatory rationales for hiring, promotion and other decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Scrutinize neutral criteria to ensure they are not proxies for race, sex or other protected characteristics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-1 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a36fa716 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Navigate HR complexity with confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">With Brightmine, you can build powerful people strategies, implement best practices and set your organization up for a brighter future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Learn how our tools, resources and automation can empower you and your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/us\/solutions\/?intcmp=cta|blog|solutions|learn-more\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<p class=\"\"><a href=\"#top\">Go back to the top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-efae2095 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-gray-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter editor-posts-filtered-types editor-posts-filtered-topics \">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_right\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"loader-container\">\n\t\t<span class=\"loader\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-filter-widget__container\">\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fcdab8bb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">About the author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-thumbnail is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/12\/06101413\/Emily-Scace-150x150.webp\" alt=\"Emily Scace, JD, Senior Legal Editor at Brightmine\" class=\"wp-image-7358\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Emily Scace, JD<\/strong><br>Senior Legal Editor, Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Emily Scace has more than a decade of experience in legal publishing. As a member of the Brightmine editorial team, she covers topics including employment discrimination and harassment, pay equity, pay transparency and recruiting and hiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Emily holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English and psychology from Northwestern University. Prior to joining Brightmine, she was a senior content specialist at Simplify Compliance. In that role, she covered a variety of workplace health and safety topics, was the editor of the OSHA Compliance Advisor newsletter, and frequently delivered webinars on key issues in workplace safety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bbb7e64f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">See our extensive HR resources and expertise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">In an ever-changing regulatory environment, we have everything you need to stay in control and compliant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-primary-white-color has-secondary-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/hrcenter.us.brightmine.com\/freetrial-login\/?loggedInUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;registrationUrl=%2Ffreetrial%2Fnew-user%2F&amp;intcmp=bottom|cta-single|light|banner|hrcentreuk-freetrial|start-your-free-trial\" style=\"border-radius:100px\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Start your free trial<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The latest DOJ guidance, issued July 29, 2025, outlines examples of workplace DEI programs it views as discriminatory under federal law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":10194,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"wp-custom-template-new-resources","categories":[55],"tags":[],"topic":[28],"class_list":["post-10193","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-news","topic-inclusion-belonging"],"_lnrs_read_more":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>DOJ guidance warns federal contractors about DEI practices<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The latest DOJ guidance, issued July 29, 2025, outlines examples of workplace DEI programs it views as discriminatory under federal law.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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