Senate affirms anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion advocate Andrea Lucas for another term as head of a leading workplaces rights agency in the judiciary
The confirmation of Andrea Lucas as Commissioner, and later Acting Chair, of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under the Trump administration marked a significant shift in the agency's approach to workplace diversity and civil rights.
Lucas, during her tenure, was critical of workplace diversity programs, arguing that the EEOC was an executive branch agency rather than an independent one [1][3]. This stance was met with criticism from civil rights advocates who viewed her approach as a threat to workplace equality.
One of Lucas's most contentious decisions was her vote against the final rule for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires accommodations for pregnant workers and those related to abortion choices [1]. She also voted against the EEOC’s workplace harassment guidance that included protections for LGBTQ+ workers, effectively abandoning transgender workers facing discrimination [1][2][3].
Advocates and organizations condemned Lucas for politicizing the EEOC, failing to expand civil rights enforcement, and prioritizing President Trump’s executive directives over established law and Supreme Court precedent [2][3]. Her efforts to weaken diversity programs, reduce protections for transgender and LGBTQ+ workers, and align the commission’s policies with religious and executive priorities rather than broad equal employment protections were widely criticized [1][2][3].
The EEOC, created by Congress under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, was left without a quorum due to the dismissals of commissioners. The agency, which investigates employment discrimination in the private sector, was also accused of green lighting discrimination and rolling back protections for people who are sexually assaulted at work [4].
Lucas was also tasked with rolling back protections for transgender workers and prioritizing religious rights in the workplace [5]. This stance was met with backlash from legal and civil rights groups who filed a lawsuit against the EEOC for unlawfully refusing to enforce federal protections for transgender workers [6].
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supported Lucas's confirmation, citing her belief in finding balance in EEOC policies [7]. However, if a second Trump nominee, Britanny Panuccio, is confirmed by the Senate, there may be a change in direction for the EEOC.
Sen. Patty Murray criticized Lucas for warping the mission of the EEOC, while the EEOC has also been accused of intimidating anyone who challenges President Trump [8].
As the EEOC continues to navigate the complexities of workplace discrimination, the legacy of Lucas's tenure remains a topic of ongoing debate and concern for those advocating for workplace equality.
References: [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/26/us/politics/eeoc-andrea-lucas-trump-transgender.html [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/06/12/andrea-lucas-trumps-eeoc-pick-faces-criticism-over-her-views-transgender-rights/ [3] https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/trump-nominee-andrea-lucas-eeoc-said-agency-is-executive-agency-n1034106 [4] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-18/trump-s-eeoc-nominee-andrea-lucas-said-she-would-target-diversity-programs [5] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/us/politics/trump-nominee-andrea-lucas-eeoc-religious-rights.html [6] https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu-files-lawsuit-against-eeoc-over-discrimination-against-transgender-workers [7] https://www.uschamber.com/press-release/chamber-applauds-senate-confirmation-andrea-lucas-eeoc [8] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/01/30/andrea-lucas-trumps-eeoc-pick-faces-criticism-over-her-views-transgender-rights/
- The criticism from civil rights advocates towards Lucas's stance, particularly her vote against the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the EEOC's workplace harassment guidance, raised concerns about the politicization of policy-and-legislation within the EEOC.
- The ongoing debate about Lucas's tenure as Commissioner of the EEOC, marked by her decisions perceived as a threat to workplace equality, highlights the intersection of politics and general-news, particularly in the context of crime-and-justice concerning transgender and LGBTQ+ workers.
