EEOC drops Nike subpoena lawsuit

The U.S. United States — United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) dropped its lawsuit seeking to enforce a subpoena against Nike, Inc. in an investigation into whether the company discriminated against white employees. The agency filed the lawsuit in February after claiming Nike refused to provide information such as workforce racial and ethnic data and lists of employees in mentoring programs. On August 13, 2026, the EEOC told the court that Nike had complied with the subpoena, and U.S. District Judge Cristian Stevens granted the motion to dismiss. The EEOC emphasized that dropping the subpoena action does not conclude its investigation. The probe originated from a commissioner's charge initiated by EEOC Chair Andrea R. Lucas in May 2024, part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Nike has denied any discrimination and called the lawsuit a surprising escalation.