The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has confirmed its plans to eliminate the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), which governs and enforces federal contractor responsibilities. The DOL’s proposed 2026 budget allocates no funding or staff to OFCCP.  According to a DOL spokesperson, the DOL intends to reassign OFCCP’s duties under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act to the U.S. Equal Employment Read More

As part of the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant program established in 2023, the California Labor Commissioner’s Office has awarded $8.55 million in grants to 16 local prosecutors. The purpose of these grants is to help local governments enforce labor laws, including wage payment violations and other employment practices illegal under state law. Usage of these grants is likely to result in an increased number of Read More

A Texas federal district court has issued a ruling finding portions of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) enforcement guidance on harassment unlawful. More specifically, the Court held that the definition of “sex” in the guidance was too expansive insofar as it included sexual orientation or gender identity. The Court’s ruling has vacated those portions of the guidance Read More

The U.S. Supreme Court recently gave the green light to the Trump administration to continue laying off large numbers of workers at 19 federal agencies and departments. While litigation over the issue is ongoing, the Court lifted a lower court ruling that temporarily blocked the layoffs. However, the justices noted that they were not deciding the legality of the layoffs or agency restructuring plans but were simply Read More

The initial report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for June took economists by surprise, showing an increase of 147,000 jobs. Economists had predicted a slowdown in hiring due to trade policy uncertainties, high interest rates, immigration, and federal employee layoffs. However, as one economist quickly pointed out, despite the promising numbers, only 74,000 private sector jobs were added in Read More

Four U.S. Supreme Court decisions over the past four years collectively have created the potential for increased discrimination lawsuits based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2023, the Court eliminated affirmative action in admissions to higher education in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. That same year, the Court’s ruling in Groff v. DeJoy stated that Read More

A federal judge in Pennsylvania recently issued a ruling finding that CVS Caremark Corp., a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM), owed the federal government $95 million for overbilling Medicare Part D-sponsored drugs. The Court did not rule on the government's request for treble damages, leaving that issue for a later date after the parties have briefed it. When Caremark handled Medicare Part D sponsored plans for Read More

Andrea Lucas, Acting Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), stated during her confirmation hearing that the agency is not independent and is subject to lawful presidential directives. Questioning by Democratic lawmakers during her confirmation hearing led Lucas to acknowledge that her 2021 social media post (then on Twitter) incorrectly characterized the EEOC as an independent agency. She Read More

A judge in a Louisiana federal district court has invalidated a provision in an April 2024 final rule implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). According to the judge, a provision of a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rule defining abortion as a "related medical condition" under the PWFA is unconstitutional because it goes beyond the scope of the original legislation. The judge Read More

The state of Missouri is opposing Starbucks’ motion to dismiss an anti-DEI discrimination lawsuit that it filed against the company. According to the state, it has alleged sufficient evidence of discrimination against its citizens to overcome dismissal. The case is State of Missouri v. Starbucks Corp., Case Number 4:25-cv-00165, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Missouri claims that Read More