Comment from Riley, Toni EEOC-2026-0034

I strongly oppose eliminating the EEOC’s collection of racial demographic information. Supporters of this proposal argue that collecting racial data promotes stereotyping. I believe the opposite is true. Ignoring disparities does not eliminate them—it simply makes them harder to identify, measure, and address. Yes, our nation has made measurable progress in expanding equal employment opportunity. But progress should not be confused with parity. When groups begin from vastly unequal starting points because of generations of legally sanctioned discrimination and exclusion, measurable improvement does not necessarily mean they have caught up. That is the very principle underlying equity: recognizing that equal treatment today does not automatically erase the effects of unequal treatment yesterday. Data do not create discrimination. Data reveal whether discrimination or persistent disparities may exist. Without demographic information, it becomes far more difficult to determine whether employment decisions are truly equitable, whether existing civil rights protections are working, or whether barriers continue to affect certain communities. As a society, we rely on data to make informed decisions in nearly every area of public policy. We collect data on health outcomes, education, economic performance, public safety, and countless other issues because measurement allows us to identify problems and evaluate solutions. Employment equity should be no different. If we value accountability in other areas, we should not abandon it here. Eliminating racial demographic reporting does not eliminate inequality. It reduces transparency. If we stop measuring disparities, we risk creating the false impression that they no longer exist. Public policy should be guided by evidence, not by the absence of evidence. The EEOC’s mission is to enforce equal employment opportunity laws. That mission is strengthened—not weakened—by having reliable demographic data to inform enforcement, identify systemic patterns, and evaluate whether all Americans have a genuine opportunity to succeed.