The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigation is seen as the Trump administration’s latest effort to roll back diversity and inclusion policies.
Published February 5, 2026
Nike is under investigation in the United States over allegations that it discriminated against white workers through its diversity and inclusion policies.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced Wednesday that it has filed a motion in court to force Nike to turn over information related to allegations of “intentional racial discrimination” against white employees.
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The allegations relate to an alleged pattern of discrimination in “hiring, promotion, demotion, or separation decisions, including termination selection, internship programs, mentoring, leadership development, and other career development programs,” the U.S. government agency said.
The agency said it took the action after Nike failed to respond to subpoenas seeking a variety of information, including the criteria used to select employees for layoffs and set executives’ salaries.
EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, a vocal critic of racial diversity efforts and appointed by President Donald Trump last year, said that U.S. anti-discrimination laws are “colorblind” and protect employees of “all races.”
“Thanks to President Trump’s commitment to enforcing our nation’s civil rights laws, the EEOC has renewed its focus on the fair enforcement of Title VII,” Lucas said in a statement, referring to provisions of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that prohibit employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, or sex.
Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike did not respond to a request for comment.
The EEOC’s action is seen as the Trump administration’s latest move to roll back policies promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.
As one of President Trump’s first acts upon returning to the White House, he signed an executive order repealing “radical” and “wasteful” DEI initiatives introduced under his predecessor, Joe Biden’s administration.
Like many large American companies, Nike publicly supported social justice causes such as Black Lives Matter ahead of President Trump’s 2024 re-election.
Nike’s share of nonwhite employees rose by more than 4 percentage points from 2020 to 2021, making it the most of any company other than health care provider Danaher, according to a Bloomberg analysis of company data reported to the EEOC.
