US probes Nike over white workers' discrimination claims

February 4, 2026

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has launched an investigation into Nike, demanding company records dating back to 2018 to examine allegations that the sportswear company discriminated against white employees in its hiring, promotion, and compensation practices. The investigation stems from a 2024 complaint filed by America First Legal, an organization founded by Trump adviser Stephen Miller that opposes diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Nike has defended its employment practices as lawful and compliant, stating it has already provided thousands of pages of documentation to investigators.

Who is affected

Nike (company under investigation)
White employees, job applicants, and training program participants at Nike (alleged discrimination victims)
Nike employees considered for layoff during 2024 job cuts (subject to information requests)
Racial and ethnic minorities potentially affected by changes in diversity programs
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance (facing similar EEOC investigation)
America First Legal (organization that filed the initial complaint)

What action is being taken

The EEOC is conducting an investigation into Nike's employment practices
The EEOC has demanded company records from Nike dating back to 2018
The EEOC is seeking extensive information including personal data of employees considered for layoffs
Nike is responding to the EEOC petition and attempting to cooperate
The White House is redirecting the EEOC away from its historic focus on bias affecting minority groups and women
The EEOC is engaged in a similar investigation with Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance

Why it matters

This investigation represents a fundamental shift in civil rights enforcement in the United States, marking a departure from the EEOC's traditional mission of protecting minorities and women from workplace discrimination. The case signals that diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that many companies have implemented could now face federal scrutiny and potential legal challenges under claims of "reverse discrimination." This could have widespread implications for corporate diversity initiatives across American businesses and reshape how companies approach hiring, promotion, and compensation decisions related to race and ethnicity.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC