EEOC moves to scrap demographic reporting, weakening anti-discrimination enforcement

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has proposed ending the collection of EEO-1 reports, which have provided demographic data on company workforces for six decades. Experts and former officials argue that without this data, the agency will struggle to identify systemic discrimination in hiring and promotions. The move is seen as part of the Trump administration's broader effort to reshape the commission's role.

The EEO-1 reporting system has operated continuously since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, requiring private employers to submit workforce data categorized by race, ethnicity, sex, and job classification. This information has enabled the commission to investigate thousands of discrimination complaints annually and recover billions of dollars for affected workers.

The proposal follows broader changes at the agency since January 2025, including revised strategic priorities that emphasize claims from white male workers, discontinued cases on behalf of transgender employees, and scrutiny of workplace diversity practices. Commissioner Andrea Lucas has argued the reporting requirement is unconstitutional and burdensome to employers.