Labor Department Ends Enforcement of Workplace Equality Rule

The Department of Labor’s Acting Secretary Vince Micone has announced a major policy change by issuing Secretary’s Order 03-2025, which immediately halts all investigations and enforcement activities related to the now-rescinded Executive Order 11246.

The directive applies universally to employees across the department, including the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), the Office of Administrative Law Judges, and the Administrative Review Board.

Executive Order 11246, originally signed in 1965, mandated nondiscrimination and affirmative action obligations for federal contractors. It has been a cornerstone of promoting equal employment opportunities by ensuring contractors adhere to diversity and anti-discrimination standards in their hiring practices. The rescission of this executive order marks a significant shift in federal labor policy.

The Secretary’s Order explicitly states that the department no longer has authority under this rescinded order or its associated regulations. For federal contractors, this means an end to regulatory oversight tied to Executive Order 11246, potentially altering compliance requirements and expectations.

This development is just the latest under the Trump administration, which is committed to removing such diversity initiatives.