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Department of Education Directs Universities to Submit Race, Sex Data

August 14, 2025

By Rosemary Cox, M.S.

On August 7, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon directed the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to collect data on admissions for institutions of higher education to ensure that race-based preferences...

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Immigration in Employment: How Employers Can Prepare for Investigations

August 12, 2025

By Cassie Alfheim

BLOG OVERVIEW: Employers are facing difficult challenges in order to ensure compliance with Form I-9 requirements. Complex record keeping requirements, the prevalence of remote work, increased enforcements, and the potential for...

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OFCCP Continues to Close Open Audits

August 11, 2025

By Amanda Bowman

As noted in a prior blog, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) began issuing administrative closure letters for open audits following Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s release of Order 08-2025 on July 2, 2025....

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Trump Administration Makes Progress in Key EEOC Appointments

August 07, 2025

By Lily Kerr, M.S.

In a press release published July 24, 2025, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Acting Chair Andrea Lucas announced the recent appointments of three top officials at the agency: Sharon Rose, serving as Chief Operating...

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DOJ Releases Memo on Discrimination by Funding Recipients

August 05, 2025

By Cassie Alfheim & David Cohen

Blog Overview: Late last month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a memorandum emphasizing that discrimination by recipients of federal funds will no longer be tolerated. Notably, this memo introduces the...

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Court Upholds Release of EEO-1 Reports Under FOIA

August 04, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

On July 30, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit upheld a decision requiring the Department of Labor (DOL) to release EEO-1 reports for federal contractors. The EEO-1 reports detail the racial, gender, and ethnic...

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Understanding the EU Pay Transparency Directive

July 31, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo and David Cohen

Blog Overview: Employers with a presence in Europe must prepare for annual pay reporting requirements as part of the European Union Pay Transparency Directive. While European Union member states are still working...

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Updated California FEHA Rules on AI and Equal Employment Practices

July 29, 2025

By Zach Olsen and Amanda Allen

BLOG OVERVIEW:California's amendments to its FEHA are set to go into effect October 1, 2025. Employers will need to be aware of a number of changes that will impact them, including broader regulations on EEO compliance...

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Ohio House Bill 96 Alters State Contractor Affirmative Action Obligations

July 28, 2025

By Kate Hayek

On June 25th, 2025, Ohio’s House and Senate passed operating appropriations bill HB 96, which Governor Mike DeWine signed into law on June 30th. HB 96 set the state’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 and by extension...

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Minnesota Changes: 2025 Guide to Workforce Certificates & Annual Compliance Reports

July 16, 2025

By Sally Makreff

BLOG OVERVIEW:The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has updated its requirements for state contractors looking to obtain a State of Minnesota Workforce Certificate, as well as requirements for the Annual Compliance Report. These...

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2024 EEO-1 Filing: Unpacking the Changes and Preparing for Next Year

July 16, 2025

By Benjamin Kerner and Lily Kerr

BLOG OVERVIEW:Expert consultants go over DCI's takeaways and lessons from this year's EEO-1 filing period and instruction booklet, including a shortened timeline for employers with no late submissions accepted,...

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OFCCP Begins Sending Closure Letters Following Secretary’s Order 08-2025

July 11, 2025

By Yesenia Salguero

On July 2, 2025, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued Order 08-2025, which outlines the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) priorities and enforcement actions related to Section 503 of the...

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California Law Regulating AI in Employment to Go in Effect in October

July 10, 2025

By Mitchell Chamberlin

After multiple attempts by the California legislature to pass laws regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated-decision systems in employment, the State of California’s Office of Administrative Law has...

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Where is the Updated Annual VEVRAA Hiring Benchmark?

July 08, 2025

By Victoria Ungvary and Amanda Bowman

July 31, 2025 Update:

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has announced the Veteran Hiring Benchmark is 5.1% effective July 30, 2025. Employers required to include a Veteran Hiring...

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OFCCP Resumes Section 503 and VEVRAA Enforcement

July 03, 2025

By Zach Olsen

On July 2, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer issued Order 08-2025, which allows the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to resume its enforcement activities related to Section 503 of the...

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OFCCP Proposes Big Changes to Disability Regs, Minor Revisions for Vets

July 01, 2025

By Fred Satterwhite

Five months after Executive Order (EO) 11246 was revoked, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has proposed revisions to its implementing regulations, including changes to affirmative action and data...

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Open Letter to Contractors in Response to OFCCP's Info Request

June 30, 2025

By David Cohen

On Friday, June 27th, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Director Catherine Eschbach sent a letter to federal contractors asking them to voluntarily submit information to the agency explaining their efforts to...

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Is EEO Cool Again? Part II: Decoupling EEO from DEI

June 25, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

This is Part 2 of the “Is EEO Cool Again?” blog series. Catch up by reading Part I: EEO Compliance Isn't DEI.

Over the past decade, many experts have emphasized the importance of breaking down silos between equal employment...

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Is EEO Cool Again? Part I: EEO Compliance Isn’t DEI

June 18, 2025

By: Joanna Colosimo

Over several decades, DCI has dedicated substantial efforts to evaluating equal employment opportunity (EEO) compliance programs and anti-discrimination initiatives. Typically managed within an organization's Human Resources and...

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Artificial Intelligence in Employment: 2025 Regulatory Update

June 12, 2025

By Dave Schmidt and Sarah Layman

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into employment decision-making processes for organizations continues to accelerate, as does the evolution of the legal and regulatory environment. This post provides...

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Department of Justice Launches Civil Rights Fraud Initiative

June 11, 2025

By Fred Satterwhite

Federal contractors who have been waiting to find out how Executive Order (EO) 14173 would be implemented now know at least one piece of the federal government’s enforcement plan.

On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice...

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Vermont Pay Transparency Law to Go into Effect

June 09, 2025

By Mitchell Chamberlin

As DCI has covered in a previous blog, a new pay transparency law is set to go into effect in Vermont starting on July 1, 2025. With the enactment of this law, known as Act 155, Vermont joins four other states with new pay...

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New Jersey Pay Transparency Law Takes Effect

June 02, 2025

By Stephanie Horn

A new pay transparency law is in effect in New Jersey as of June 1, 2025. Senate Bill No. 2310 was introduced in the New Jersey Legislature last year and requires covered employers in New Jersey to notify current employees of...

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Despite Revocation of Executive Order 11246, Requirements for Veterans Remain

May 22, 2025

By Mitchell Chamberlin

The rescission of Executive Order 11246, along with shifts in focus and significant changes at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has led to a period of confusion for federal contractors.

Many...

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EEO-1 Portal Now Open for 2024 Filing

May 20, 2025

By Amanda Bowman and Emily Kimble

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has officially opened the2024 EEO-1 Component 1 data collection portal as of today, May 20, 2025. All private-sector employers with 100 or more employees are now...

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Colorado Legislature Fails to Delay Implementation of AI Law

May 15, 2025

By Mitchell Chamberlin

In early 2024, the Colorado state legislature passed Senate Bill 24-205, Consumer Protections for Interactions with Artificial Intelligence Systems (CPIAIS), which was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on May 17, 2024....

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District Court Ruling Reinforces Justification for Employers to Collect Demographic Data

May 12, 2025

By Dave Cohen and Joanna Colosimo

Recently, there have been many questions regarding the collection of demographic data from employees and applicants by employers. Executive Order 14173 and other executive and agency actions by the Trump...

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Trump Nominates EEOC Commissioner, Quorum Within Reach

May 12, 2025

By Cassie Alfheim

On May 6, 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Brittany Bull Panuccio to be a Commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If confirmed, Panuccio would serve as a member of the Commission until July 1,...

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Democracy Forward Files Lawsuit Opposing EEOC’s Law Firm Data Request

May 06, 2025

By Lily Kerr

On April 15, 2025, Democracy Forward Foundation, a nonprofit known for litigating cases against the federal government, filed a lawsuit against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Democracy Forward filed the suit on...

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Ranking U.S. House Members Request Information from OFCCP Director

May 05, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

On April 28, 2025, two members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote a letter to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), Catherine Eschbach, expressing strong opposition to the revocation...

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EEO-1 Component 1 Reporting Timeline and Changes Proposed

April 22, 2025

By Benjamin Kerner

May 20, 2025 Update:

The EEO-1 filing portal is now open. Employers have until June 24, 2025, to submit their reports. For more information, download DCI's Step-by-Step Guide to Filings EEO-1s in 2025.

May 12, 2025 Update:

EEOC's...

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Former OFCCP Officials Pen Open Letter to Federal Contractors

April 15, 2025

By Mitchell Chamberlin

On April 15, 2025, ten former Department of Labor (DOL) officials from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Office of the Solicitor (SOL)—including former Directors Jenny Yang and Pat Shiu—released an

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Four Top Law Firms Sign Settlement with EEOC on DEI

April 14, 2025

By David Cohen and Joanna Colosimo

On Friday, April 11, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued an announcement that they have settled with four “BigLaw” firms over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. The...

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Former EEOC Officials Issue Open Letter Regarding DEI

April 07, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

Former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) commissioners and legal representatives have authored an open letter addressed to the legal community in response to an EEOC document released on March 19, 2025, by Acting...

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Job Relatedness and Adverse Impact: What's Legal and What's Not

April 01, 2025

By Lisa Harpe and David Cohen

The concept of adverse impact under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) is widely misunderstood. Adverse impact occurs when a seemingly neutral employment practice disproportionately (i.e. statistically)...

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EEOC Acting Chair Andrea R. Lucas Renominated

March 26, 2025

By Lily Kerr

On March 25, 2025, President Trump renominated Commissioner and Acting Chair Andrea R. Lucas for a second five-year term at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Originally nominated by Trump during his first term in 2020,...

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OFCCP Poised to Review Contractor Data, New Director Considers Reforms

March 25, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the new Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) Director Catherine Eschbach announced to agency staff that they will review Affirmative Action Plans and data files...

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Catherine Eschbach Appointed OFCCP Director

March 24, 2025

By Mitchell Chamberlin

On March 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced that Catherine Eschbach has been appointed the Director of the agency. In this role, she is expected to help...

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EEOC and DOJ Release Technical Guidance on “Illegal” DEI

March 20, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

On March 19, 2025, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Justice Department issued a press release and two technical assistance documents focused on educating employers, employees, and the public about the...

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Former Officials Pen Open Letter to EEOC Acting Chair

March 19, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo and Mitchell Chamberlin

On March 18, 2025, seven former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) officials issued an open letter addressed to Acting Chair Andrea Lucas. This letter was written in response to information...

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EEOC Sends Letters to Law Firms Requesting Information on DEI Practices

March 18, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

On March 17, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Acting Chair Andrea Lucas sent letters to 20 law firms, requesting information about their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related employment...

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Appeals Court Lifts Injunction on Executive Orders 14173 and 14151

March 17, 2025

By Fred Satterwhite and Joanna Colosimo

On March 14, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted the government's Motion for a Stay Pending Appeal in the lawsuit concerning two Executive Orders aimed at ending diversity,...

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OFCCP Audit-Related Webpages Reactivated

March 14, 2025

By Cassie Alfheim

Recently, many federal government websites, including several Department of Labor (DOL) pages, have undergone significant changes. In February, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website featured only a...

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California Pay Data Reporting in 2025: Everything You Need to Know

March 13, 2025

By Lily Kerr and Benjamin Kerner

The State of California Civil Rights Department’s (CA CRD) fifth annual pay filing is currently underway, with a due date of Wednesday, May 14th, 2025. The filing requirement, first instituted in 2021, was motivated...

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Illinois DOL Makes Equal Pay Registration Certificate Updates for 2025

March 12, 2025

By Dave Sharrer

The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is informing employers with Equal Pay Registration Certificates (EPRC) about changes that will impact upcoming filings.

Key updates include:

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Nondiscrimination Program Requirements for California Contractors

March 07, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo

In the wake of the revocation of Executive Order (EO) 11246, many equal employment opportunity (EEO) and compliance leaders are re-evaluating their state non-discrimination and affirmative action plan (AAP) requirements that may...

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Evaluating Merit-Based Employment Decisions Under the New Administration

March 06, 2025

By Lisa Harpe and Michael Aamodt

A number of DCI blogs and resources have summarized recent executive actions across the employment landscape. One theme across these actions is an emphasis on “merit-based” decision making. Although not explicitly...

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Workforce Data Collection Considerations After DEI Order

February 28, 2025

By Lynn Clements, David Cohen, and Victoria Lipnic

NOTE: This article was originally published in Law360

On Jan. 21, Executive Order 14173, titled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity," revoked the requirement that...

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Second Challenge to Anti-DEIA Executive Orders

February 26, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo and David Cohen

The National Urban League, National Fair Housing Alliance, and AIDS Foundation of Chicago have come together to challenge a series of Executive Orders (EO) issued by President Trump including EO 14151, “Ending...

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America First Legal Urges OFCCP to Investigate Contractors’ DEI Programs

February 25, 2025

By David Cohen and Joanna Colosimo

In a recent development, America First Legal (AFL) has formally requested the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) to investigate federal contractors that allegedly have...

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Bill Introduced in Congress to Codify Executive Order 11246

February 25, 2025

By David Cohen, Joanna Colosimo, and Mitchell Chamberlin

On February 5, 2025, Representatives Shontel Brown (Ohio) and Jamie Raskin (Maryland) introduced House Resolution 989 (HR 989) to codify Executive Order 11246, which was revoked by President...

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Preliminary Injunction Granted Against Anti-DEI Executive Orders

February 24, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo and David Cohen

February 26, 2024 Update:

On Monday, February 24, 2025, the Trump administration filed an appeal, ensuring that the case will proceed to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Original Blog:

In a significant legal move,...

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Department of Labor Announces Annual HIRE Vets Award Cycle

February 20, 2025

By Joanna Colosimo and Mitchell Chamberlin

On February 13, 2025, the Department of Labor announced the opening of the HIRE Vets Medallion Award cycle. This award is the only federal award recognizing employers for investing in recruiting, employing...

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New Guidance on Ending DEIA Programs in Federal Agencies

February 14, 2025

By: David Cohen and Joanna Colosimo

On February 5, 2025, Charles Ezell, Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), issued a memorandum to heads of Federal departments and agencies providing further guidance on ending...

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Democratic State Attorneys General Issue Guidance for DEIA Initiatives

February 14, 2025

By: David Cohen and Joanna Colosimo

On February 13, 2025, the Attorneys General from 16 states issued guidance to address concerns from businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations regarding the importance and legality of diversity, equity,...

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California Adds New Race Category to Annual Pay Data Report

February 06, 2025

By: Fred Satterwhite and Kate Hayek

California’s Civil Rights Department (CA CRD) has beaten federal government agencies in the race to collect and present data using updated race and ethnicity categories.

As we mentioned last week, CA CRD opened...

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New Acting OFCCP Director in Place; Contractor Community Awaits Guidance

January 30, 2025

By: Mitchell Chamberlin and Joanna Colosimo

January 31, 2025 Update: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs website now lists Michael Schloss as Acting Director and Deputy Director of Policy. 

Original Blog: Sources within the Department...

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This Year’s CA Pay Reporting Cycle Has Arrived

January 30, 2025

By: Haley Fisk

The State of California’s Civil Rights Department (CRD) has released key dates for the upcomingpay data reportingcycle. As highlighted on theCA Pay Data Reporting webpage, the 2024 cycle will begin with the portal opening for...

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States Continue to Enforce Their Affirmative Action Requirements

January 30, 2025

By: Bill Osterndorf

While the federal government is ending most affirmative action obligations, the states continue to enforce their affirmative action requirements.The revocation of Executive Order 11246and the various efforts to end diversity,...

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OFCCP Issues Statement After Revocation of Executive Order 11246

January 24, 2025

By: Joanna Colosimo and Mitchell Chamberlin

On January 23, 2025, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) issued a statement in response to an Executive Order President Trump issued titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and...

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Industry Leaders Issue Joint Statement After Revocation of EO 11246

January 24, 2025

In response to the revocation of Executive Order 11246, DCI Consulting President and Owner David Cohen and several industry leaders released a joint statement providing guidance to federal contractors. This guidance highlights the continuing...

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President Trump Revokes Executive Order 11246

January 22, 2025

By: Joanna Colosimo & Mitchell Chamberlin

Last night, President Trump revoked Executive Order 11246 with a new Order titled, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity."This new Order effectively ends affirmative action in...

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The Chance to Compete Act: Enhancing Federal Hiring Through Technical Assessments

January 17, 2025

By: Angie Delacruz and Melissa Haudek

Federal hiring is seeing a resurgencein its transformation with the Chance to Compete Act of 2024, a law designed to prioritize skills-based assessments over traditional hiring methodssuch as the use of degree...

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FAR Council Withdraws Proposed Pay Transparency Rule

January 14, 2025

By: Brittney Brinkley and Evan Szarenski

On January 8, 2025, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (“FAR Council”) published a notice in the Federal Register withdrawing last year’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Pay Equity and...

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Minnesota Pay Transparency Law Goes Into Effect

January 13, 2025

By: Stephanie Horn

As DCI has previously reported, the State of Minnesota has a pay transparency law requiring employers to include certain pay and benefits information in job postings that became effective on January 1, 2025. The pay transparency...

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