The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the Trump administration is preparing to file a discrimination lawsuit against the New York Times, according to a report from the newspaper itself, which characterized the move as politically motivated. The case stems from a complaint by a white male employee who claims he was passed over for a promotion because of his race and gender, sources familiar with the matter told the Times.
The lawsuit could be filed as early as this week, sources said. The Times has denied the allegations and accused President Donald Trump of using the EEOC as a weapon for his long-running feud with the media.
“The New York Times categorically rejects the meritless and politically motivated allegations that the Trump administration’s EEOC is pursuing against us,” said Danielle Rhoades Ha, a Times spokesperson. “Our employment practices are, and have always been, lawful, merit-based, and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world.”
The EEOC investigation began months ago, with the Times responding to information requests and participating in conciliation—a voluntary mediation process that typically follows an agency finding of “reasonable cause” to believe discrimination occurred. If conciliation fails, the EEOC can sue. During those talks, the Times said it was informed that the case had been sent to a legal unit for further review that could lead to civil action.
Rhoades Ha alleged the EEOC deviated from standard procedures. “Throughout this process, the EEOC deviated from standard practices in highly unusual ways, blatantly weaponizing a traditionally independent government body to serve a predetermined narrative,” she said. “If this lawsuit moves forward, we will defend ourselves and our values vigorously as there is not a single piece of evidence to support any claim of discrimination.”
The legal threat comes as the Trump administration has intensified pressure on news organizations. Trump has previously sued the Times and the Wall Street Journal for defamation, and cases against CBS, ABC, and others have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements. The president has also targeted the Times over its coverage of the Iran conflict, an issue that has fueled tensions between the White House and the press.
Since launching his second term, Trump has pushed all federal agencies to crack down on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, focusing on hiring practices that he argues discriminate against white and male workers. EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas has specifically encouraged white male employees to report workplace bias to the agency.
In February, the EEOC announced it was investigating Nike over allegations that the company’s diversity programs may have unlawfully discriminated against white employees. The probe into the Times follows its own efforts to boost diversity after facing criticism in 2021 for underrepresenting people of color on its staff and in 2022 for giving minority employees lower performance ratings.
The Times maintains its hiring and promotion practices are lawful. “Our employment practices are, and have always been, lawful, merit-based, and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world,” Rhoades Ha said, reiterating the company’s position.
