The EEOC sued The New York Times, alleging it violated federal law by failing to consider a White male editor for a promotion.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued The New York Times on Tuesday, alleging the company violated federal law by failing to consider a White male employee for a promotion because of his race and sex.
The case places the federal employment watchdog in a direct legal fight with one of the country’s most prominent news organizations, as the Trump administration continues pressing employers over diversity, equity and inclusion practices. The Times rejected the allegations and said it would fight the suit.
According to the EEOC, the employee was a longtime editor at the paper with extensive experience covering real estate. The agency said he was not selected last year as a finalist for an open editorial job.
The commission alleges the decision violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
“No one is above the law — including ‘elite’ institutions,” EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said in a statement. “There is no such thing as ‘reverse discrimination’; all race or sex discrimination is equally unlawful, according to long-established civil rights principles.”
The agency said the person hired for the position was an external candidate, described by the EEOC as a White woman with little to no experience in real estate journalism, despite the agency’s assertion that such experience was required for the role.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, senior vice president of communications at The New York Times, called the case a politically motivated attack. “The New York Times categorically rejects the politically motivated allegations brought by the Trump administration’s EEOC,” she said in a statement. “Our employment practices are merit-based and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world. We will defend ourselves vigorously.”
The lawsuit follows broader efforts by the Trump administration to curtail DEI programs in both public and private institutions. The EEOC also said earlier this year that it was investigating Nike over allegations of discrimination against White workers in hiring, promotion, workplace development and layoffs.
The allegations against The Times have not been tested in court. The next step will be the litigation process, where the agency’s claims and the company’s defense will be weighed under federal employment law.
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