Nike Under Federal Investigation for Alleged Discrimination Against White Workers
The Trump administration has turned its scrutiny toward global sportswear giant Nike, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) launching a formal investigation into claims that the company discriminated against white workers through its diversity initiatives. This marks a significant escalation in the administration's campaign against corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
EEOC Files Court Motion to Compel Nike Records
On Wednesday, the EEOC filed a court motion seeking to compel Nike to produce comprehensive employment records dating back to 2018. The federal agency, which enforces laws against workplace discrimination, alleges that Nike has not provided sufficient information for its investigation that began in 2024. This legal action represents a notable step in the Trump administration's approach to employment practices.
Origins of the Case Against Nike
The case stems from a 2024 charge initiated by current EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, who was then a Republican commissioner with the agency. Lucas has consistently criticized diversity and inclusion policies, labeling them as potentially discriminatory. The disclosure against Nike comes nearly two months after Lucas publicly urged white men to come forward if they have experienced race or sex discrimination at work, encouraging eligible workers to contact the federal agency.
Scope of the EEOC Investigation
According to court filings, the EEOC is investigating systemic allegations of DEI-related intentional race discrimination at Nike. The agency alleges that Nike may have engaged in a pattern or practice of disparate treatment against white employees, applicants, and training program participants in several areas:
- Hiring, promotion, demotion, and separation decisions
- Selection for layoffs
- Internship programs
- Mentoring, leadership development, and other career development programs
The investigation specifically focuses on whether Nike violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employers from using race as a criterion for employment decisions. Central to the probe is Nike's publicly stated goal of increasing representation of racial and ethnic minorities to at least 30% of U.S. employees at director level and above, and to at least 35% of its entire U.S. corporate workforce by 2025.
First Major EEOC Action Under Trump's Second Term
This case against Nike represents the EEOC's first significant action since Donald Trump took office for his second term in January 2025. The Trump administration has consistently attacked diversity initiatives, with Trump himself characterizing them as "reverse discrimination" and advocating for what he calls a "colorblind and merit-based" society. Days after taking office, Trump signed executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI programs within the federal government and revoked the 1965 order mandating equal employment opportunities for all.
Nike's Response to the Investigation
Nike has characterized the EEOC's enforcement action as a "surprising and unusual escalation" and has firmly rebutted the discrimination claims. In an official statement, the company declared: "We are committed to fair and lawful employment practices. We believe our programs and practices are consistent with those obligations and take these matters seriously. We will continue our attempt to cooperate with the EEOC and will respond to the petition."
The sportswear giant elaborated that it has already shared thousands of pages of information along with detailed written responses to the federal agency's inquiry and is in the process of providing additional documentation.
Broader Context and Other Targeted Companies
Nike appears to be the highest-profile company that the EEOC has targeted with a publicly confirmed investigation under the Trump administration. However, this is not an isolated case. In November 2025, the agency issued a similar subpoena against financial services provider Northwestern Mutual, indicating a broader pattern of scrutiny toward corporate diversity initiatives.
According to Bloomberg reports citing Nike's own data submitted to the EEOC, between 2020 and 2021, the company experienced the most noticeable shift in hiring non-white workers among major corporations. This statistical change has become a focal point in the ongoing investigation into whether Nike's diversity goals crossed legal boundaries.
The case represents a significant test of how federal employment discrimination laws apply to corporate diversity initiatives in an increasingly polarized political climate, with potential implications for workplace policies across American industry.
