Washington: President Donald Trump's administration is encouraging white men to file workplace discrimination claims, marking a significant shift in its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This move is part of a broader campaign to dismantle DEI programs across the federal government.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Andrea Lucas, the acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), urged white males who have experienced discrimination at work to come forward. In a post on X, Lucas emphasized that these individuals might have a claim under federal civil rights laws. She reiterated the EEOC's commitment to eliminating all forms of race and sex discrimination, including those against white male employees and applicants.
The EEOC, originally established under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to address workplace sexism and racism, is now focusing on what it terms "DEI-related discrimination." Since President Trump's return to the White House, there has been a concerted effort to roll back affirmative action policies and challenge DEI programs, which are criticized by American conservatives as being too "woke."
Under Lucas, the EEOC is also addressing alleged discrimination against American workers in favor of illegal aliens, migrant workers, or non-immigrant guest workers. This focus represents a significant departure from previous priorities under past administrations. Additionally, media reports indicate that the EEOC has ceased investigating complaints of workplace discrimination against transgender individuals, a group that has faced challenges under the Trump administration.
Vice President JD Vance has supported Lucas's call, sharing a column by a Hollywood screenwriter who claimed discrimination due to being a young white man. Vance described DEI as a "deliberate program of discrimination primarily against white men," a sentiment with which Lucas agreed.
A study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst highlights that African American employees file complaints with the EEOC at a rate 195 times higher than white employees. Furthermore, data from the Pew Research Center indicates that, on average, women earned 85 percent of what men did last year, underscoring ongoing disparities in the workplace.