EEOC Commissioner Charge Hike Puts More Power in Members’ Hands

A recent increase in investigations initiated by commissioners at the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission indicates they are bringing charges of their own volition to tackle issues of concern to them, even when their party isn’t in the majority.

In fiscal year 2023, the five EEOC members filed a combined total of 35 commissioner charges—a hike from the 29 filed in FY 2022 and three charges filed in FY 2021 and 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. This jump accompanied an increase of total lawsuits filed by the commission in FY 2023 to 158, the highest annual number since FY ...