A US federal agency has opened an investigation into Nike over allegations that the company discriminated against white employees and job applicants.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has demanded that the sportswear giant hand over documents linked to the claims, including information on its diversity, equity and inclusion goals for 2025 and other DEI-related objectives. The agency said the request forms part of a broader inquiry into whether Nike’s employment practices may have breached federal anti-discrimination laws.
Nike said it was surprised by the escalation of the investigation but insisted it complies with all applicable employment laws.
The move comes as the Trump administration intensifies its pushback against diversity initiatives across the public and private sectors. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised DEI programmes, describing them as radical, and has taken steps to limit their use through executive orders.
EEOC chair Andrea Lucas said the agency would act decisively when there are indications that workplace diversity programmes may violate federal law. She said the commission would use all available legal tools, including subpoenas, to fully investigate such cases.
The EEOC enforces laws that prohibit discrimination against workers and job applicants on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and has broad authority to investigate employers covered by those laws.
Lucas, a Republican, was appointed acting head of the EEOC in 2025 following Trump’s return to office. Her predecessor, Charlotte Burrows, was removed shortly afterwards. Lucas said the agency’s enforcement of anti-discrimination laws must be race-neutral and apply equally to all workers.
Since taking office, Trump has signed executive orders directing federal agencies to cancel equity-related grants and contracts and requiring federal contractors to certify that they do not promote DEI initiatives. His administration has also warned universities that federal funding could be withdrawn if diversity programmes are not dismantled.
The EEOC is seeking information from Nike dating back to 2018, including records on layoff selection criteria, the company’s collection and use of employee race and ethnicity data, and details of 16 programmes that allegedly offered mentoring, leadership or career development opportunities restricted by race.
Lucas has made diversity and gender-related workplace programmes a focus of her tenure, saying in a recent interview that she aims to reverse what she described as the effects of an aggressive push for DEI under the previous administration.
In a statement, a Nike spokesperson said the company has cooperated extensively with the EEOC, providing thousands of pages of documents and detailed written responses. The spokesperson said Nike remains committed to fair and lawful employment practices and believes its programmes comply with anti-discrimination laws.
Nike said it would continue to cooperate with the investigation and respond to the agency’s requests.
