EEOC Shifts National Origin Focus to Anti-American Bias Under Trump

HR Dive · United States · Oct 14, 2026

Under Trump's second administration, the EEOC has redirected its national origin discrimination enforcement away from protecting immigrants and toward combating anti-American bias in the workplace. Chair Andrea Lucas has publicly warned employers against giving preferential treatment to foreign workers, citing Title VII violations, and the agency has pursued cases against employers in multiple industries, including a Guam hotel resort and a construction company. The EEOC is also seeking subpoena enforcement against Hyundai over alleged refusal to hire non-Korean workers. Staffing firms and their clients should review hiring and assignment practices—particularly those involving H-1B workers or foreign national preferences—as this enforcement shift creates meaningful compliance exposure across industries that rely on international labor pipelines.