EEOC sues New York Times, alleging bias against White male worker
Employment watchdog accuses the New York Times of violating federal law by passing over a White male journalist for a job.
Updated on: May 6, 2026 / 7:35 AM EDT / CBS News
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the New York Times, alleging the media company violated federal law by failing to consider a White male employee for promotion.
According to the EEOC, the Times did not promote the worker because of his race or gender, which the agency argues violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
"No one is above the law — including 'elite' institutions. There is no such thing as 'reverse discrimination'; all race or sex discrimination is equally unlawful, according to long-established civil rights principles," EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas said in a statement.
"Federal law is clear: making hiring or promotion decisions motivated in whole or in part by race or sex violates federal law. There is no diversity exception to this rule," she added.
Danielle Rhoades Ha, senior vice president of communications at the New York Times, dismissed the EEOC suit.