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 Officer; Shannon Royce, serving as Chief of Staff; and Amanda Smith, serving as Director of the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs. All have prior experience supporting government agencies, with Royce and Smith having held Director roles in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) during the first Trump administration, and Rose having previously served as senior counsel to the Office of the Solicitor at the Department of Labor (DOL).
EEOC Quorum Nearly Reached
In addition to the three staff appointees, the Trump Administration has moved towards reestablishing a quorum of Commissioners at EEOC. A quorum is necessary in order to take substantive actions such as rulemaking. To this end, Andrea Lucas was re-nominated to serve an additional term as Commissioner, and a new Commissioner, Brittany Bull Panuccio, was nominated. Both Lucas and Panuccio were approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee along party lines, and the full Senate voted to confirm Lucas on July 31st. As of the writing of this blog, Panuccio is still awaiting a confirmation vote by the full Senate.
If confirmed, the two Republican Commissioners would join current Democratic Commissioner, Kalpana Kotagal, reestablishing a quorum. With Kotagal’s term expires in July of 2027, the agency would have the required quorum for roughly the next two years.
Continued Shift in EEOC Priorities
The recent appointees and nominees are poised to play critical roles in implementing EEOC’s agenda. The Commission has already had a heavy hand in enforcement in the current administration, particularly regarding President Trump’s Executive Order 14173. Additionally, in March of this year, EEOC released technical assistance guidance on “illegal” DEI, in partnership with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and issued letters to multiple law firms requesting information regarding their DEI practices.
The recent bolstering of staff at the agency is likely an indication of additional enforcement activity to come. DCI will continue to provide EEOC-related updates on our blog.
