Oracle America, Inc. v. U.S. Dept. of Labor (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2020)

At issue before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia is whether the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) should be able to implement and enforce the government’s longstanding policy against discrimination in government contracting. ADL signed onto an amicus brief that supports the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Oracle against the DOL and OFCCP — just as trial was getting underway in OFCCP’s $400 million gender and race discrimination lawsuit against the company. Oracle argues that OFCCP lacks legal authority to enforce civil rights laws. If Oracle prevails, the OFCCP would no longer be able to enforce the Executive Order that prohibits discrimination in the federal contractor workforce, which makes up approximately one quarter of the U.S. civilian workforce. ADL joined a coalition of former government officials and employees, civil and workers’ rights advocacy groups, labor unions, and law firms arguing that the OFCCP must maintain its ability to bring forward enforcement actions, in order to protect civil rights and advance equal opportunity for all workers — including women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.