Victims can seek compensation with federal help, including over resisting DEI programs, the workplace civil rights chief has said
The head of the US federal body responsible for enforcing workplace civil rights has urged white men to come forward if they believe they have been discriminated against, including under diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
In a video message published on Wednesday, Andrea Lucas, chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), called on white male employees and job applicants who feel they were targeted because of their race or sex to submit formal complaints. She emphasized that strict deadlines apply for filing claims with the agency.
“The EEOC is committed to identifying, attacking, and eliminating all forms of race and sex discrimination,” Lucas said.
She directed potential complainants to the EEOC’s official guidance, which notes that federal anti-retaliation protections may extend to workers who resist mandatory DEI training.
Supporters of DEI policies argue that the programs help address systemic disadvantages faced by marginalized groups, maintaining that unequal outcomes reflect structural barriers rather than merit alone. Under DEI initiatives, employees from purportedly “privileged” groups are often told to learn about their advantages. Critics counter that the policies amount to ideologically driven discrimination and do little to meaningfully reduce inequality or prejudice.
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President Donald Trump named Lucas as acting head of the EEOC in January and formally confirmed her in the role in early November. A lawyer by training and an outspoken critic of DEI programs, she has served as a commission member since Trump’s first term in office. Her reconfirmation by Congress in July drew opposition from Democratic lawmakers, who accused her of politicizing the agency.
