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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to end employee demographic data reporting, according to a proposal sent to the White House on Thursday.
The agency wants to get rid of EEO-1, EEO-2, EEO-3, EEO-4 and EEO-5 reporting requirements. EEOC also wants to axe reporting requirements related to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
EEO-5, or the Elementary-Secondary Staff Information Report, requires all public elementary and secondary school systems and districts with 100 or more employees to submit workforce demographic data including race/ethnicity, sex and activity assignment classification every two years. It is mandated under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
EEO-1 reporting has been a cornerstone of HR duties, required by firms with 100 or more employees and federal contractors with 50 or more employees that meet certain requirements. EEOC and analysts have used it to assess demographic data nationally, and — while the process is sometimes viewed as burdensome — employers have reportedly used the collected data for self-assessments regarding nondiscrimination and diversity.
President Donald Trump’s second administration has consistently targeted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the workplace, starting with Inauguration Week executive orders relating to DEI, and this latest move may well be an extension of those efforts.
During Trump’s previous administration, the White House attempted to block the now-defunct EEO-1 pay data reporting requirements — a move business groups celebrated at the time.
Stakeholders have long expected that the second Trump administration would put the broader EEO-1 on the chopping block, given that such a move was proposed in the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.
Following White House approval, proposed rules are generally published in the Federal Register and opened up for public comment before a final rule is published.
EEOC did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.
Roger Riddell contributed to this story.
