The Donald Trump administration announced on Wednesday that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is investigating the sports brand Nike for possible cases of employment discrimination against white employes. The agency asked a federal court to order the company to turn over documents related to its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
According to the EEOC, Nike’s DEI programs may have favored disadvantaged social groups at the expense of white employes and applicants, affecting hiring decisions, promotions, layoffs, and professional development opportunities.
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Federal investigation into Nike’s DEI programs
The EEOC detailed in its lawsuit that it is investigating systemic allegations of intentional racial discrimination related to Nike’s DEI programs, some of which date back to 2018, during Donald Trump’s first term in the White House.
The agency requested information from Nike about:
- Criteria for layoffs and promotions
- Race and ethnicity data processing
- Mentoring and professional development opportunities in 10 corporate programs with racial restrictions
Having not received the requested information, the EEOC filed an enforcement action in federal court.
The EEOC enforces Title VII impartially.
Andrea Lucas, Chair of the EEOC, stated that Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, regardless of color, and that the agency is obligated to protect employes of all races from unlawful employment practices.
Lucas pointed out that President Trump’s commitment to law enforcement has renewed the EEOC’s focus on ensuring impartiality in workplace investigations, including sanctions and legal proceedings against companies and educational institutions for discrimination against white employes.
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Origin of the investigation against Nike
The investigation stems from a charge issued by Lucas in 2024, when she was a Republican commissioner at the EEOC. The document indicated that Nike may have taken “illegal measures” to create a representative workforce, including the following 2025 targets:
- Achieve 30% representation of racial and ethnic minorities in management positions.
- Achieve 35% representation of racial and ethnic minorities in the corporate workforce.
Both goals applied to Nike’s U.S. workforce.
Nike’s response to the investigation
Nike described the investigation as “a surprising and unusual escalation”. The company stated that it has participated constructively and in good faith in the investigation, providing thousands of pages of information and detailed responses to the EEOC, and is continuing to deliver additional information.
A Nike spokesperson stated: “We have cooperated extensively with the EEOC and remain committed to providing all required information about our employment practices and DEI programs”.
