The EEOC, under Chair Andrea Lucas, is proposing to end its annual collection of employee demographic data (EEO-1 reports) and rescind a 1979 regulation that allowed voluntary affirmative action plans. These changes would significantly alter civil rights enforcement.
- The EEO-1 data has been key in identifying discrimination patterns, leading to settlements like the $10 million Bass Pro Shops case. - Chair Lucas argues the data has been misused, leading to discrimination against white employees and men, citing lawsuits against Nike and The New York Times.
- The 1979 regulation, upheld by the Supreme Court, provided a legal roadmap for race- and gender-conscious hiring efforts. - Experts warn that ending data collection will make enforcement harder, comparing it to "driving a car without a dashboard." The proposals have been submitted to the White House for review, and the 2026 data collection period has not yet been announced.