{"id":7959,"date":"2025-03-27T22:15:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T22:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=7959"},"modified":"2025-03-27T22:15:25","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T22:15:25","slug":"the-new-landscape-of-eeo-affirmative-action-and-dei","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/inclusion-belonging\/the-new-landscape-of-eeo-affirmative-action-and-dei\/","title":{"rendered":"The new landscape of EEO, Affirmative Action and DEI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);min-height:250px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img decoding=\"sync\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-5877\" alt=\"Brightmine background\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/19110611\/Hero_Header_HP_Background_Desktop.webp\" style=\"object-position:100% 51%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"100% 51%\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-d4010286 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:0;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-f90d3be4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;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<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-primary-purple-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0bf61e854cbe82c2da3e188f053910a7\">The new landscape of EEO, affirmative action and DEI<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-gray-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-a7b2e02da5036801641329885bdfb529\">Amid the new landscape of EEO, affirmative action and DEI, many employers are uncertain about the current state of the law. This resource offers clarity and guidance on how to respond.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full has-custom-border\"><img decoding=\"sync\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/11141301\/resource_page_banner_brightmine.webp\" alt=\"Brightmine resources graphic\" class=\"wp-image-4642\" style=\"border-radius:0px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/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-84aa7ce7 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;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<p class=\"\">Published: March 27, 2025 | by <strong>Emily Scace<\/strong>, <strong>JD<\/strong>, Senior Legal Editor at Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Two months into the second <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/trump-administration-first-100-days\/\">Trump administration<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/discrimination\/\">employment discrimination<\/a> law may never look the same. From ending most affirmative action requirements for federal contractors to cracking down on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-strategy\/dei\/\">diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives<\/a>, the administration has aimed its actions squarely at upending equal employment opportunity (EEO) norms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Amid this new landscape, many employers are uncertain about the current state of the law, wondering what has and has not changed, and looking for clarity about how to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-63055ddb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-79d58207 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-left-radius:25px;border-bottom-right-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<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:clamp(15.747px, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.131), 24px);\">In this resource:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.548), 18px);line-height:1.7\" class=\"\"><a href=\"#eeo-is-still-the-law\">EEO: Still the law<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.548), 18px);line-height:1.7\" class=\"\"><a href=\"#affirmative-action-ends\">Affirmative Action: The end of an era<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.548), 18px);line-height:1.7\" class=\"\"><a href=\"#dei-shifting-landscape\">DEI: A shifting landscape<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"eeo-is-still-the-law\">EEO: Still the law<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Federal laws that apply to most employers prohibit employment discrimination based on various protected characteristics. The major federal antidiscrimination laws include:<\/p>\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:66.66%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964<\/strong>. Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), religion and national origin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)<\/strong>. The ADEA applies to employers with 20 or more employees and prohibits age-based discrimination against workers 40 and older.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)<\/strong>. The ADA applies to employers with 15 or more employees. It prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities and requires reasonable accommodation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Equal Pay Act (EPA)<\/strong>. The EPA applies to virtually all employers and prohibits sex-based pay discrimination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-color has-secondary-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-11f4896d9c0539ea44ac22fdd09d9b5e is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:25px;border-top-right-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<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-primary-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7d83d6455aef64e47c408ae0cfc3f459\">&#8220;Shifts in messaging from the EEOC do not alter an employer&#8217;s duty to provide a workplace free from discrimination and harassment..&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">All of these laws are still in force, and employers&#8217; compliance obligations under them have not changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">What <em>has<\/em> changed are the enforcement postures and legal interpretations under the current leadership of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). For example, the EEOC has radically changed its position on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/discrimination\/eeoc-orders-review-of-lgbtq-discrimination-claims\/\">gender identity discrimination<\/a> and harassment, reversing its earlier stance on issues including bathroom access, names and pronouns. The agency has also signaled increased receptiveness to claims of so-called reverse discrimination &#8211; discrimination against individuals in a majority group. Recent statements have warned employers about national origin discrimination against American workers and &#8220;unlawful DEI-motivated race and sex discrimination.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But these shifts in messaging from EEOC leadership do not alter employers&#8217; duty to provide a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. Employers should not change course, but should continue to prioritize equal opportunity and a foster culture of respect for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"affirmative-action-ends\">Affirmative Action: The end of an era<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Federal employment discrimination laws are written broadly, and they generally do not specify how employers should go about preventing and eliminating unlawful discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">By contrast, federal contractors have had to follow detailed antidiscrimination requirements since 1965. As a condition of receiving federal money, employers needed to implement a slate of actions, from recordkeeping to written plans to pay equity measures. These requirements stemmed from Executive Order (EO) 11246, which required covered contractors to take affirmative action with regard to race, color, religion and national origin. (Sex, sexual orientation and gender identity were added later.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the federal agency responsible for overseeing compliance, regularly conducted audits of affirmative action programs, and employers that fell short could face the loss of their contracts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But with the stroke of a pen, President Trump upended this long-standing regime. On January 21, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/employment-law-updates\/trump-executive-orders-2025-quick-reference-chart\/#DEI-executive-orders\">EO 14173<\/a>, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, revoked EO 11246. The OFCCP was directed to immediately stop holding contractors responsible for compliance with affirmative action requirements based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion and national origin. (Affirmative requirements for disability and protected veteran status remain in effect.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Federal contractors may continue to comply with the revoked requirements for 90 days from the date of the order &#8211; until April 21, 2025. Some states and localities have their own <a href=\"https:\/\/hrcenter.us.brightmine.com\/employment-law-guide\/affirmative-action-federal\/2308\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">affirmative action<\/a> requirements for contractors, which remain in effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dei-shifting-landscape\">DEI: A shifting landscape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The same executive order that eliminated most affirmative action requirements contains a series of provisions targeting DEI programs. Federal agencies are directed to investigate publicly traded corporations, large nonprofit corporations and other organizations for so-called &#8220;illegal DEI and DEIA policies&#8221; and programs. Federal contractors will be required to certify that they do not operate &#8220;any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable federal anti-discrimination laws.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A new technical assistance document sheds some light on what the EEOC considers to be &#8220;illegal DEI.&#8221; According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/us\/resources\/hr-compliance\/discrimination\/eeoc-issues-guidance-on-illegal-dei\/\">guidance<\/a>, a DEI initiative may be unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 if it &#8220;involves an employer\u2026taking an employment action motivated \u2014 in whole or in part \u2014 by race, sex, or another protected characteristic.&#8221; An employee only needs to show some employment-related injury or harm to have a potential discrimination claim, the guidance states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The prohibition against employment actions motivated by race, sex or another protected characteristic is nothing new. But the interpretation of Title VII&#8217;s basic command as barring many employer DEI programs represents a significant shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, should employers abandon DEI? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Not so fast. If an employer&#8217;s DEI strategy involves quotas or bases employment decisions on race, sex or another protected characteristic, it was already illegal. But many initiatives, such as recruiting from diverse sources, ensuring accessibility and improving pay equity are good ways to mitigate the risk of discrimination claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Certain types of programs are likely to receive more scrutiny. The EEOC cautions that the following DEI-related initiatives, among others, could constitute unlawful discrimination if based on a protected characteristic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-brightmine-list-item-spacing-small\">\n<li class=\"\">Access to or exclusion from training (including leadership development programs), mentoring, sponsorship or workplace networking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Selection for internships, including fellowships or summer associate programs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Limiting membership in employee resource groups (ERGs) and similar affinity groups to individuals with certain protected characteristics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Selection for interviews, including placement or exclusion from a candidate slate or pool<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Employers wondering how to proceed with their DEI initiatives should seek legal counsel. Much depends on the specifics of an employer&#8217;s programs and policies. But the bottom line seems to be that DEI activities should aim to include rather than exclude and open opportunities to all rather than limit some opportunities to certain groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-alabaster-gray-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\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<\/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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amid the new landscape of EEO, affirmative action and DEI, many employers are uncertain about the current state of the law. This resource offers clarity and guidance on how to respond.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":7970,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[56],"tags":[],"topic":[71,63,28],"class_list":["post-7959","resources","type-resources","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-c-and-i","topic-discrimination","topic-employment-law-updates","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>The new landscape of EEO, Affirmative Action and DEI | Brightmine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This resource offers clarity and guidance on how to respond to recent changes in EEO, affirmative action and DEI.\" \/>\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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