Ranking Member Scott Statement on EEOC's Proposed Strategic Plan and Ongoing Efforts to Undermine Civil Rights

WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) sent a letter in response to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC) Draft Strategic Plan, criticizing EEOC for providing insufficient time for Congress and the public to submit meaningful feedback on the plan. The EEOC has engaged in a troubling pattern of shortchanging engagement with the public on a number of its actions. In its current form, the Draft Strategic Plan will undermine the agency's enforcement of the nation's civil rights laws and harm workers.

The current Strategic Plan was developed following sufficient time and opportunity for stakeholders, including Congress, to weigh in. By contrast, this plan was released the day before a long holiday weekend with a roughly two-week comment period before the Commission plans to meet to vote on the plan. Additionally, while the plan maintains the same three strategic goals as the existing plan, Ranking Member Scott noted that its performance measures are tied to the agency's National Enforcement Plan (NEP), which was adopted without input from the public. NEP undermines the EEOC's intended mission in service of the Trump Administration's misguided priorities by targeting policies that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and limit protections for transgender workers.

"As the Draft Strategic Plan's goals and performance measures are inextricably tied to the NEP, the Draft Strategic Plan will hamper the ability of the EEOC to fulfill its mission to faithfully execute our nation's civil rights laws. This incorporation of the NEP, a document that outlines how the EEOC's resources will be marshalled in service of the Trump Administration's priorities, is inappropriate and undermines the usefulness of the Draft Strategic Plan should it be adopted," wrote Ranking Member Scott.

Background:

On November 24, 2025, Ranking Member Scott expressed opposition to the Harassment Guidance rescission and urged the EEOC not to abandon its mission to fully protect workers from discrimination.

On January 27, 2026, Ranking Member Scott scrutinized EEOC's move to abandon its statutory mandate to enforce federal employment antidiscrimination laws and ensure that all workers have equal employment opportunities.

On June 18, 2026, Ranking Member Scott and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) called for an immediate, long-overdue oversight hearing with EEOC leadership to examine the EEOC's budget request and the House Republicans' proposed Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) funding cut to the EEOC.

On July 6, 2026, Ranking Member Scott condemned EEOC for rescinding its 1979 rule that established affirmative action guidelines for employers.

To read the full letter, click here.

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