EEOC Issues Additional Instructions for MD-715 Reporting for 2026

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the approval of additional instructions for agencies' Fiscal Year 2026 Management Directive 715 (MD-715) submissions to ensure compliance with applicable executive orders while the Commission works to modernize the directive. The clarifying instructions address recent legal developments and executive orders.

Since the beginning of the second Trump Administration, Chair Lucas has focused on reforming the EEOC's federal sector program to ensure it follows the law and remains accountable to the President's directives. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the EEOC is required to regularly obtain and review equal opportunity plans and progress reports from federal agency employers. To assist agencies with this effort, the Commission has periodically issued Management Directives instructing agencies what information to include in their plans and reports and how to submit them to the EEOC. The EEOC's current Management Directive 715 (MD-715) was issued in 2003.

As MD-715 no longer meets the needs of the modern federal government, the Commission is working on a replacement to improve effectiveness and accountability in the federal sector, eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens unrelated to the EEOC's statutory obligations, and address recent legal developments, including Executive Order 14281, Restoring Equality of Opportunity and Meritocracy; Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity; Executive Order 14168, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government; and Executive Order 14151, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.

While the agency is working to develop a modern replacement for MD-715, the Commission approved clarifying instructions, to ensure that completion of the MD-715 report for 2026 complies with current law and policy, including Executive Orders 14151, 14168, 14173, and 14281.

"Today's action ensures agencies can meet their MD-715 obligations without creating legal or policy conflicts as we work toward a modernized directive," said Chair Andrea Lucas. "As the EEOC has recognized for decades, it is an executive branch agency and complies with all applicable executive orders. Under my leadership, the EEOC remains focused on faithfully applying the law, complying with executive orders, and restoring evenhanded, merit-based enforcement across the federal sector."

The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government's employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov .