Democratic Leaders Demand Reversal of Unlawful EEOC Commissioner Firings
The Trump Administration is signaling that civil rights will no longer be protected by the federal government.
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), House Committee on the Judiciary, and Ranking Member Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, are demanding the immediate reinstatement of Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels following their unlawful and unprecedented termination from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
“Their firings undermine and weaken our democracy, puts workers at risk, and intrude on Congress’s authority in Article I of the U.S. Constitution. We call for their immediate reinstatement to restore EEOC’s ability to perform its vital function for American workers,” the Ranking Members wrote. “The Administration’s unprecedented dismissal of two Commissioners inhibits the EEOC’s ability to protect workers and undermines the historically bipartisan nature of the agency’s work to protect and advance civil rights.”
The EEOC, created by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is a bipartisan, independent agency tasked with ensuring that workers are protected from discrimination. EEOC has effectively held employers accountable for illegal discrimination. In 2024, the EEOC recovered an estimated $700 million for over 21,000 victims of employment discrimination, yielding nearly twice the agency’s annual budget. The Ranking Members are deeply concerned that this unlawful and unprecedented action sends a dangerous message to workers and employers alike, signaling that enforcement of civil rights will no longer be a priority by the federal government.
The lawmakers are calling for transparency in the decision-making process, requesting all related documents and communications about the terminations, including any involvement of private organizations or individuals outside of the federal government.
To read the full letter, click here.
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