A federal agency is probing Nike for discrimination against white employees

Core Viewpoint - Nike is under federal investigation for alleged discrimination against white employees linked to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) targets [1][2] Group 1: Investigation Details - The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has requested a federal judge to compel Nike to provide information regarding allegations of racial discrimination, with some requests dating back to 2018 [1] - The investigation was initiated by EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, who claims Nike violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 through discriminatory employment practices based on race [2][5] - The EEOC is seeking information on Nike's criteria for layoffs, tracking of employee race and ethnicity data, and details on 16 programs that allegedly provide opportunities based on race [3] Group 2: Nike's DEI Initiatives - In 2021, Nike launched a five-year plan aimed at enhancing diversity and inclusion, which included linking executive pay to progress in DEI efforts [4] - One of the goals of this plan is to achieve 35% representation of racial and ethnic minorities in its U.S. workforce by 2025, with a workforce of 76,600 employees as of May 2025 [4] Group 3: Political Context - The investigation aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to curtail DEI programs in the workforce, including an executive order signed by Trump to limit DEI initiatives in the federal government [5]