The top workplace civil rights official in Donald Trump's administration has issued a direct appeal to white men, urging them to come forward with complaints of race and sex discrimination. This controversial move marks a significant shift in focus for the federal agency traditionally tasked with protecting marginalised groups.
A New Direction for Civil Rights Enforcement
Acting chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Andrea Lucas, posted a video on social media in December 2025 asking: “Are you a white male who has experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex?” The video, viewed nearly six million times, instructs them to contact the EEOC promptly, asserting they “may have a claim to recover money under federal civil rights laws.”
Lucas, a noted critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, stated the agency is now “identifying, attacking and eliminating all forms of race and sex discrimination, including against white male applicants and employees.” Her appointment in January 2025, followed by the firing of two Democratic commissioners, secured a Republican majority on the five-member board, aligning the EEOC with President Trump's anti-DEI agenda.
Critics Decry Misuse of Scarce Resources
A coalition of former EEOC and Department of Labor officials has strongly rejected Lucas's characterisation. In a statement, they acknowledged that federal law indeed prohibits discrimination against anyone, including white men. However, they argued that her video falsely suggests white men face particularly “egregious” widespread discrimination, warranting a major allocation of the agency's finite enforcement resources.
They warned this diverts attention and manpower from “well-documented and pervasive forms of workplace discrimination” affecting millions of other workers. Former EEOC commissioner Chai Feldblum, appointed by Barack Obama, labelled the development a “sad state of affairs.” She expressed concern that a white man offended by a training programme or a hiring decision could now trigger a federal investigation, potentially leading to lawsuits and public complaints free from confidentiality rules.
Broader Anti-DEI Crusade Across Government
Lucas's video is part of a wider administration campaign. Trump has signed executive orders to eliminate diversity efforts across the federal government, pressuring private companies and educational institutions to follow suit. The EEOC's website now hosts a page titled “What To Do If You Experience Discrimination Related to DEI at Work.”
Simultaneously, the Justice Department is pursuing a parallel path. Its Civil Rights Division, now led by former Trump attorney Harmeet Dhillon, is investigating DEI initiatives and allegations of “anti-Christian bias.” Federal prosecutors are reportedly using anti-fraud statutes, like the False Claims Act, to probe diversity hiring at major US companies. The division is also prioritising issues like barring transgender women from sports, central to the administration's cultural agenda.
This concerted effort represents a profound transformation of federal civil rights enforcement, moving its emphasis from protecting historically disadvantaged groups to challenging policies designed to promote equity, a shift that continues to ignite fierce debate about the purpose and future of America's civil rights laws.
