Labor & Employment Law Daily Wrap Up, HOUSE NEWS—Democratic leaders demand reinstatement of fired EEOC Commissioners, (Mar 27, 2025)
Organizations Mentioned:U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
According to the leaders, the Trump Administration’s firings “…undermine and weaken our democracy, put workers at risk, and intrude on the Congress’s authority…”
House Committee Ranking Members are insisting that the firings of U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioners Charlotte Burrows and Jocelyn Samuels from the bipartisan EEOC be reversed, arguing in a letter to President Trump that the firings were unlawful and damaging. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.), Ranking Member, Education and Workforce Committee, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Ranking Member, Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.), Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, write that the “…unprecedented dismissal of two Commissioners inhibits the EEOC’s ability to protect workers and undermines the historically bipartisan nature of the agency’s work to protect and advance civil rights.” The overall concern is that the Trump Administration is signaling that civil rights will no longer be protected by the federal government.
Arguments. Since the EEOC was created by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a bipartisan five-member commission to protect workers and job applicants from discrimination, the leaders argue that the firings are unlawful. Quoting the statute, the letter notes that the Commission “must be composed of five members, not more than three of whom shall be members of the same political party.” The language authorizing the EEOC, according to the letter, “…could not be more clear in its intent to create a commission that is bipartisan, independent, and not unduly influenced by the President.” Successful lawsuits by the EEOC are mentioned also, including how in fiscal year 2024 the EEOC secured almost $700 million for over 21,000 victims of employment discrimination.
Demands. The Ranking Members ask for a reversal and reinstatement of Commissioners Burrows and Samuels, writing, “We strongly urge you to reverse this unlawful firing and comply with your obligations to the American people under the Constitution and the laws passed by Congress.” Also requested is all information, documents, and communications, including downloads, copies, or screenshots of any messages on any digital communications platform, related to the decision to terminate and the termination of Commissioners Burrows and Samuels.
EEOC Commissioners. Commissioner Burrows was appointed to the EEOC in 2015 and had previously served under Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden. She was also Chair of the EEOC for the past four years and had been confirmed for a third term that was not set to expire until July 2028. Commissioner Samuels was first appointed by Trump in 2020 and then nominated for a second term by President Biden. Her current term was not set to end until July 2026.
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