The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the New York Times, accusing the newspaper of passing over a white male candidate for a top editorial role in favor of a less-qualified applicant to meet the company’s diversity targets, in what legal observers are calling one of the highest-profile DEI-related discrimination cases in recent memory.
The complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges the Times violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by discriminating against the candidate on the basis of his race or sex.
The lawsuit reflects a significant shift in how the federal government is approaching employment discrimination enforcement. Under the Trump administration, the EEOC has reoriented its priorities to address what the White House calls reverse discrimination, cases where candidates are passed over because of their race or sex in order to satisfy diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
Trump signed executive orders shortly after his January 2025 inauguration directing federal agencies to eliminate DEI programs and threatening to cut funding to private institutions that maintain them. His administration has since moved aggressively on multiple fronts to challenge corporate DEI practices in court and through regulatory action.
Tuesday’s EEOC complaint does not publicly identify the white male candidate or the specific editorial position he was denied. Federal filings in discrimination cases often withhold identifying details pending litigation.
Title VII has long prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. But the statute has historically been applied in cases involving discrimination against minority groups. The Trump EEOC’s willingness to bring an aggressive Title VII case against one of the country’s most prominent media companies signals the administration intends to treat DEI-driven hiring as a form of illegal discrimination, full stop.
The case lands at a fraught moment for the Times. The paper is already defending against a $15 billion defamation lawsuit brought by the Trump administration, which accuses the outlet of deliberately working to undermine the president’s 2024 election campaign. That case is pending in federal court.
The EEOC is seeking remedies on behalf of the candidate that could include back pay, compensatory damages, and an injunction requiring the Times to change its hiring practices.
