Sportswear giants Nike is under investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for allegedly violating the law against discrimination in hiring practices based on race.
In the action against Nike, the EEOC claims the company had discriminated against white employees in its hiring process, abusing its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policy.
The EEOC asserted Nike declined a subpoena to disclose data related to the racial and national composition of its staff and the list of employees selected for development and training programs.
The body said it was probing whether Nike had deliberately discriminated against white employees and candidates by disproportionately targeting them for lay-offs.
A Nike spokesperson described the complaint as “a surprising and unusual escalation,” stating that the company is cooperating with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation and has provided the agency with thousands of pages of information.
The investigation represents the latest effort by U.S. Republican President Donald Trump and officials appointed by him to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies from government, the private sector, and higher education.
Critics of DEI programs argue that they undermine merit-based decision-making and can lead to reverse discrimination, particularly against white people and men.
EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said that many common workplace diversity programs may be unlawful and that the agency will investigate and potentially sue companies for violations of laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, sex, religion, and other protected characteristics. Trump appointed Lucas to the commission in 2020 and named her chair last year.
