A New Day – How Trump’s New Executive Orders Will Impact Employers and Federal Contractors

Meredith Gregston | Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Meredith provides advice and counseling on day-to-day employee-related and compliance matters, ranging from Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) matters to termination best practices, restrictive covenants, and employment agreements, as well as advancements and changes in the pay equity space. She regularly assists clients through pay equity disputes and internal audits, and on global compliance with pay equity legislation. She also advises clients, including federal contractors, on affirmative action, legislative and regulatory changes affecting employment matters for federal contractors, and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) compliance issues, developing affirmative action plans and representing companies during the audit process.

Craig E. Leen | K&L Gates LLP

Craig Leen is a partner in the firm’s Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice, and co-leads the firm’s OFCCP and Affirmative Action Compliance area of focus. His depth of experience spans across federal, state, and local government, as well as the private sector.

Prior to joining the firm, Craig served as the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), a federal civil rights enforcement agency at the U.S. Department of Labor. In this role, Craig reported directly to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Labor; overseeing approximately 450 employees and a budget of over $105 million, with a mission to ensure compliance by federal contractors with equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination obligations.

During his tenure, OFCCP experienced record years in both enforcement recoveries and compliance assistance, with Craig overseeing three rulemakings and issuance of several technical assistance guides to help employers comply with the law. Likewise, as an agency head at the U.S. DOL, Craig worked directly with numerous other federal agencies, including the Wage & Hour Division (WHD), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the Employment Training Administration (ETA), the Office of Apprenticeship (OA), the Civil Rights and Federal Programs Divisions of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Education, the Office of Management & Budget (OMB), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

From his leadership experience at OFCCP and U.S. DOL, Craig provides clients who conduct business with the federal government a wealth of experience and insight into the enforcement of equal employment opportunity regulations, including compliance with affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations, with Craig representing employers before federal agencies, including U.S. DOL and the EEOC, and in litigation before courts at the trial and appellate levels. Likewise, he provides frequent advice to clients on developing equal employment opportunity (EEO) and inclusion programs that are compliant with Title VII and the ADA, and conducting comprehensive pay equity and promotions self-audits. Indeed, Craig has extensive experience overseeing internal employment audits, reviews, and investigations that can help companies in ensuring compliance with applicable employment laws, including in the use of artificial intelligence in employment. Finally, Craig’s knowledge and experience with the regulatory process is of significant value in providing counsel as to agency rulemakings under the Administrative Procedure Act, including advising clients on submitting comments on notices of proposed rulemakings.

I. Analysis of the recent DEI executive orders | 2:00pm – 2:15pm

II. Analysis of executive order rescinding EO 11246 | 2:15pm – 2:30pm

III. What employers can expect from EEOC | 2:30pm – 2:45pm

IV. The future of OFCCP | 2:45pm – 3:00pm