Executive Order (E.O.) 13496, signed on January 30, 2009, mandates that certain government contractors and subcontractors post notices informing their employees of their rights under federal labor laws. This executive order applies to all government contracts, except for collective bargaining agreements and contracts for purchases under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold.
Articles Discussing Affirmative Action
New Executive Order on HBCUs Establishes Initiative to ‘Promote Excellence And Innovation’
On April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order (EO) that moved a long-standing presidential initiative focused on supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from the U.S. Department of Education to the White House.
Democratic Lawmakers Urge U.S. Department of Labor to Abandon Proposal to Dismantle OFCCP
On April 11, 2025, a group of forty Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging her to “abandon plans to dismantle [the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs] and reaffirm the Department’s commitment to protecting equal employment opportunities for federal contract workers.”
New OFCCP Director Appointed
On March 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor announced Catherine Eschbach1 as the new director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). In its announcement, Director Eschbach expressed that she is “honored” to “oversee its transition to its new scope of mission” and is “committed to carrying out
BREAKING NEWS: OFCCP to Revisit Previously Submitted Contractor Files
The Wall Street Journal is reporting newly appointed OFCCP Director Catherine Eschbach announced to OFCCP staff that the Agency will review federal
Catherine Eschbach Appointed as New OFCCP Director
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that Catherine Eschbach will be the new Director of OFCCP, taking over for Acting Director Michael Schloss.
GSA Announces FAR Deviations Consistent with the Revocation of Executive Order 11246
On February 15, 2025, the director of the U.S.
U.S. House of Representatives Takes Up Bill to Codify Recently Revoked Executive Order 11246
On February 5, 2025, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives seeking to codify the recently revoked Executive Order 11246.
What Federal Contractors and Grant Recipients Need to Know About EO 14173’s Certification and Nondiscrimination Requirements Concerns
Executive Order (EO) 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” creates new obligations that could carry significant risks for any organization doing business with the United States federal government. Federal contractors, subcontractors, and recipients of federal grant money are or will soon be subject to potential liability under the
President Trump Rescinds Executive Order 11246, Impacting Federal Contractor Affirmative Action Requirements
On January 21, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order entitled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” In section 3 of the EO, President Trump rescinded Executive Order 11246, the decades-old executive order relating to federal contractor affirmative action obligations.
OFCCP Welcomes New Acting Director Amidst Policy Shift
In a significant move, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has announced that Michael Schloss will be the new acting director and deputy director of policy. This announcement comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to reshape the agency’s mission following the issuance of executive order
Acting Secretary of Labor Brings All OFCCP Activities Under Executive Order 11246 to a Halt
On January 24, 2025, Acting Secretary of Labor Vincent Micone, III issued an order to all Department of Labor employees, including employees of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Office of Administrative Law Judges, and the Administrative Review Board, instructing them to “immediately cease and desist all investigative and
President Trump Revokes 60-Year-Old Executive Order Requiring Equal Employment Opportunity in Government Contracting
On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” The order is targeted at what the president describes as “illegal” diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility policies that:
Incoming Administration Rescinds “Right of First Refusal” Requirements for Certain Employees of Federal Contractors
Among the first actions taken by the incoming administration was to rescind Executive Order (EO) 14055. Titled “Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts,” EO 14055 required certain federal contractors to offer jobs to their predecessor’s employees. The EO had proven controversial among the business community and was widely expected
Reviving Reporting: OFCCP Reinstates Monthly Employment Data Reporting for Construction Companies
TakeawaysBeginning 4/15/25, federal construction contractors will need to submit monthly employment data (using the reinstated CC-257 Report), including details on the number of employees and work hours by race/ethnicity and gender.Gathering and preparing the relevant data each month may prove challenging for contractors with employees working on multiple projects.Construction contractors should start to prepare by assessing their compliance programs and data reporting capabilities.Related links