DirectEmployers Blog
OFCCP Compliance Compliance Alerts
Missouri v. Starbucks: A Legal Overview on the State’s DEI Challenge
In February 2026, a federal court brought a decisive end to one of the most high-profile legal challenges against corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The lawsuit, Missouri v. Starbucks, served as a critical test case for how far state...
Greatly Expanded IPEDS Reporting for Colleges & Universities Approved by Trump Administration
The following compliance alert was provided by Mickey Silberman, Esq. and Michelle Duncan, Esq. of Silberman Law PC. Submission of Seven Years of Detailed Data Due by March 18, 2026 Data to be Used for Potential Discrimination Investigations First, the good news...
OFCCP Funding Restored Through September 30, 2026 Under H.R. 7148
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the President signed into law H.R. 7148, the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026." This significant legislative action provides consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and marks a turning point for...
Bipartisan Budget Deal Proposed to Fund OFCCP at $100.9M: What it Means for Federal Contractor Compliance
As we move into early 2026, federal contractors find themselves at a crossroads of significant regulatory and budgetary change. For months, the primary question for the contracting community has been: Will the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)...
What Talent Acquisition & Compliance Teams Need to Know About the New Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence
If you're using AI-powered or AI-enabled tools in your recruiting workflow or managing compliance around AI in hiring, pay attention. A new Executive Order issued December 11, 2025, establishes federal direction on AI regulation–and it could significantly reshape how...
Compliance Alert: Updated Jurisdictional Thresholds for Federal Contractors Relating to Section 503 & VEVRAA
On October 1, 2025, important updates to federal contractor coverage thresholds under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) went into effect. These changes may impact which organizations are required...
OFCCP Increases Jurisdictional Thresholds for VEVRAA and Section 503
Federal contractors and subcontractors have new numbers to keep in mind when evaluating their compliance obligations. The Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has officially updated the jurisdictional thresholds for the Vietnam...
Ashley Romanias to Step in as Director of OFCCP Upon Catherine Eschbach’s Departure
While no official announcement has been made by the U.S. Department of Labor on her departure, reports are making their way through the regulatory sphere that Catherine Eschbach is leaving the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), where she has...
Senate Confirms EEOC Acting Chair Andrea Lucas for Second Term
On Thursday, July 31st, the U.S. Senate confirmed Andrea Lucas for her second term as Acting Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in a vote of 52-45 (see full press release). Lucas was originally appointed by Trump in 2020 where she served as a...
Annual VEVRAA Hiring Benchmark Drops to 5.1%
Despite recently proposed changes, federal contractor requirements under the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) remain strictly in place. As part of the legislation, which requires applicable contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative...