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EEOC accused of indefinitely suspending federal-sector class sex harassment cases
The lawsuit, filed by a union and two Louisiana correctional officers, challenges the EEOC directive because it has not been publicly disclosed and is not tied to a stated reason, the filing says.
A labor union and two female prison employees have filed a lawsuit accusing the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of unlawfully ordering an indefinite suspension of federal-sector class claims involving workplace sex harassment. According to Insurance Journal, the plaintiffs allege the EEOC issued a suspension directive for federal-worker discrimination complaints handled by its administrative judges. The suit targets a certified class complaint filed by two correctional officers at a Louisiana federal prison against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which they say failed to prevent and correct widespread sexual harassment by inmates against female staff, including rape threats, unwanted touching, and nudity. The plaintiffs, Deanna Chelette and Alexzandria Boyd, are joined by the American Federation of Government Employees. The lawsuit says the EEOC ordered the suspension without disclosing why, and it is unclear how many other cases could be affected.
The EEOC declined questions, referring them to the Department of Justice, which did not comment. Insurance Journal reports that the filing also argues the suspension aligns with broader changes at the EEOC under President Donald Trump, including enforcement priority shifts, and seeks to have the suspension directive vacated.