The U.S. government is encouraging white men to report instances of workplace discrimination—part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to scale back DEI initiatives across the country.
Andrea Lucas—acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)—posted on X this week asking
Are you a white male who’s experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex?
She added that those affected “may have a claim to recover money under federal civil rights laws.”
The EEOC, created under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is tasked with addressing race- and sex-based discrimination in employment. Traditionally, the agency has focused on protecting groups, such as black Americans and women, but under Lucas’ leadership, it has emphasized that discrimination against all racial groups—including white male employees and applicants—is also illegal. The agency’s website now highlights “DEI-related discrimination” as a category of concern.
Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has sought to dismantle DEI programs, ending gender-neutral passport options, and requiring passports to match sex at birth. Last month, the Trump administration told U.S. diplomats to call out countries that push DEI programmes or allow so-called gender transitions for children.
