A federal civil rights agency in the United States initiated legal action against the New York Times, alleging discrimination in a promotion decision that favored a less qualified woman over a white male employee to meet diversity targets. The lawsuit, filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), centers on a complaint from a New York Times editor who was bypassed for the role of deputy real estate editor in 2025, citing gender and racial discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
The EEOC asserts that the New York Times’ stated objectives to enhance diversity in leadership influenced the exclusion of the white male candidate from the final interview stage, while advancing three women and a Black man. EEOC chair Andrea Lucas, a Republican, emphasized the impartial enforcement of Title VII to safeguard all workers, including white males, against discrimination arising from diversity initiatives.
Responding to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the New York Times, Danielle Rhoades Ha, criticized the EEOC’s approach, stating that the decision was based on merit and the appointed candidate, despite not having real estate journalism experience, excelled as an editor. The EEOC highlighted the newspaper’s diversity policies, including the “Call to Action” plan aiming to increase Black and Latino leadership by 50% by 2025, as evidence of alleged discriminatory practices.
Lucas has been vocal against public representation goals set by companies, especially following the racial protests in 2020. While Title VII prohibits consideration of race or gender in employment decisions, critics argue that EEOC’s stance may undermine efforts to address historical workplace discrimination. Separately, the EEOC is also investigating Nike for racial discrimination against white employees, a probe initiated by Lucas to scrutinize diversity policies at the sportswear company.