The Facts
OFCCP protects meritocracy
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) protects the fundamental American principles of opportunity, hard work and meritocracy as the most efficient mechanism to enforce policies that ensure workers are assessed based on their skills, qualifications, and performance, rather than factors like gender, race, religion, or disability. This drives fair, merit-based employment practices that guarantee equal career opportunity for all, upholding the core American value of fairness in the workplace.
Quotas and preferential treatment are and always have been strictly prohibited
Quotas and preferential treatment are explicitly prohibited under Executive Order (EO) 11246, which guarantees equal protection for all workers, regardless of irrelevant outside factors. The OFCCP enforces the prevention of these illegal practices, including race and sex-based quotas or diversity hires, to guarantee equal opportunity for all candidates and employees.
The truth about affirmative action in employment
EO 11246’s inclusion of affirmative action has been historically misunderstood to mean that the order requires companies to set quotas, diversity preferences or set asides. In fact, these practices go directly against 11246’s fundamental values. 11246 is an important tool and our government’s most efficient mechanism to go beyond affirmative action, as it explicitly requires true nondiscrimination in employment and protects all groups, including veterans, disabled Americans, and workers of all faiths. This applies for all workers, including those not typically included in traditional "DEI" narratives, such as white and male workers.
OFCCP has a history of protecting American workers
Since 1965, the OFCCP has carried out EO 11246 to protect the right for all American workers to be treated fairly without regard to racial, gender or other extraneous characteristics. The OFCCP has a long history of protecting American workers – and its work has positive economic results for driving innovation, providing equal opportunity and promoting America’s most qualified workers. By strictly prohibiting quotas, preferential treatment, set-asides, and any practices that undermine merit-based selection, the OFCCP ensures equal opportunity for all workers, strengthening our workforce and reinforcing the promise of the American Dream.