EEOC Sued for Halting Transgender Discrimination Enforcement

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and its acting chair, Andrea Lucas, face a lawsuit from Democracy Forward and the National Women’s Law Center for allegedly failing to enforce protections for transgender workers. The complaint alleges that since January, the EEOC halted investigations and dismissed lawsuits related to sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, violating Title VII and other legal standards established by the Supreme Court in Bostock v. Clayton County. This policy shift follows an executive order from President Trump directing the government to recognize only two sexes, prompting the EEOC to limit its processing of transgender discrimination charges and dismiss active cases. The lawsuit argues that the EEOC's actions deny transgender complainants access to investigative processes and block payments to state and local civil rights agencies. Separately, the EEOC secured a $480,000 settlement from a Colorado car dealership accused of sex, race, and national origin harassment and retaliation, illustrating the agency's ongoing enforcement in other discrimination areas. These developments highlight tensions within the EEOC's enforcement priorities regarding LGBTQ+ worker protections under the current administration.