On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to rescind longstanding guidance addressing voluntary affirmative action plans under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, the EEOC voted to rescind the interpretive guidelines titled “Affirmative Action Appropriate Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” and the corresponding compliance manual. The rescission does not alter Title VII’s longstanding protections against employment discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, religion, or other protected categories.
The final rule implementing those rescissions was published on July 6, 2026, and became effective immediately.
Rescission of EEOC Affirmative Action Guidance
The EEOC originally adopted the affirmative action guidelines in 1979 to help employers and other Title VII-covered entities develop and defend voluntary affirmative action plans.
The EEOC determined that the guidance was inconsistent with its… Read the complete article here...
© 2026 Varnum LLP
