Ogletree Deakins Ogletree Deakins
Home > Insights & Resources > Blog Posts > New Faces, Big Shifts: EEOC and OFCCP in Transition

New Faces, Big Shifts: EEOC and OFCCP in Transition

By T. Scott Kelly and James J. Plunkett
Download PDFPrintShare

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has sworn in Catherine Eschbach as its first-ever principal deputy general counsel, a newly created position within the agency’s Office of General Counsel (OGC). Eschbach, who had served as director of the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) since March 2025, brings significant enforcement and leadership experience to the EEOC. Her appointment is expected to further shape the EEOC’s litigation strategy and strengthen coordination on contractor discrimination and pay equity matters.

United States flag waving from a flagpole in front of a partially cloudy sky with the sun out

Quick Hits

  • The EEOC announced that Catherine Eschbach had been sworn in as principal deputy general counsel.
  • Eschbach had been serving as OFCCP director since March 2025.
  • Her move brings contractor enforcement expertise to the EEOC’s litigation and legal strategy. Ashley Romanias will step in as OFCCP director with Eschbach’s departure.

The principal deputy general counsel position is a new role at the EEOC, and Eschbach’s appointment comes at a time of transition for the EEOC’s OGC. Indeed, current EEOC Acting General Counsel Andrew Rogers is expected to leave the Commission at any moment, as on October 7, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed him as administrator of the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division. With Rogers leaving for a new role at DOL, Eschbach will remain as the sole political appointee in the general counsel’s office. As such, she is expected to carry out the Commission’s enforcement agenda. The Trump administration has not publicly commented on a nomination to the general counsel role. Other key members of the EEOC’s litigation team include several associate general counsel and regional attorneys, but the top leadership structure may continue to shift pending new appointments.

OFCCP’s leadership is also shifting. While the agency has not officially announced a new director, Ashley Romanias’s LinkedIn profile now lists her as director. The future of OFCCP itself remains uncertain, as ongoing budget negotiations in Washington, D.C., have raised questions about the agency’s continued funding and existence.

Next Steps

Employers—especially federal contractors—should anticipate closer coordination between EEOC litigation priorities and contractor compliance issues and monitor for OFCCP leadership and policy updates.

Ogletree Deakins’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance, Government Contracting and Reporting, Leaves of Absence/Reasonable Accommodation, Pay Equity, and Workforce Analytics and Compliance Practice Groups will continue to track developments at the EEOC and provide updates as the Commission’s policy direction becomes clearer on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance, Employment Law, Government Contracting and Reporting, Governmental Affairs, Leaves of Absence, Pay Equity, Technology, and Workforce Analytics and Compliance blogs.

This article and more information on how the Trump administration’s actions impact employers can be found on Ogletree Deakins’ Administration Resource Hub.

Follow and Subscribe
LinkedIn | Twitter | Webinars | Podcasts

Topics

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance , Employment Law , Government Contracting and Reporting , Governmental Affairs , Leaves of Absence , Pay Equity , Technology , Workforce Analytics and Compliance

Browse More Insights

Podcasts Seminars Webinars
Computer laptop with financial graph data on table in the office
Practice Group

Workforce Analytics and Compliance

Ogletree Deakins’ Workforce Analytics and Compliance Practice Group provides tailored guidance and legal recommendations for a myriad of workforce issues, informed by data-driven, state-of-the-art compliance and risk assessment services. Our services encompass all stages of the employment life cycle, such as selections, career advancement, compensation and benefits, and retention, which enables employers to make informed decisions […]

Learn more
Fingerprint Biometric Authentication Button. Digital Security Concept
Practice Group

Technology

Ogletree Deakins is uniquely situated to provide tech employers and users (the “TECHPLACE™”) with labor and employment advice, compliance counseling, and litigation services that embrace innovation and mitigate legal risk. Through our Technology Practice Group, we support clients in the exploration, invention, and/or implementation of new and evolving technologies to navigate the unique and emerging labor and employment issues present in the workplace.

Learn more
Digital generated image of multi racial group of people forming circle on world map on blue background. Solidarity and support concept.
Practice Group

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance

Our attorneys are ready to assist with the full spectrum of workplace DEI-related issues. The members of Ogletree Deakins’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Compliance Practice Group have extensive and unique experience assisting employers.

Learn more
Form for a leave of absence on a desktop.
Practice Group

Leaves of Absence/Reasonable Accommodation

Managing leaves and reasonably accommodating employees can be complex, frustrating, and expose employers to legal peril. Employers must navigate a bewildering array of state and federal statutes, with seemingly contradictory mandates.

Learn more
Practice Group

Pay Equity

Recent high-profile lawsuits and increased activity from state legislatures have thrust pay equity issues to the forefront for today’s employers. As the momentum of legislation, regulation, and corporate initiatives focused on identifying and correcting pay disparities continues to grow, our attorneys are ready to assist with the full spectrum of pay equity-related issues.

Learn more
The Capitol - Washington DC
Practice Group

Government Contracting and Reporting

The experienced attorneys in our Government Contracting, and Reporting Practice Group advise and defend federal contractors and subcontractors on jurisdictional, compliance, and enforcement issues relevant to government contracting, including those involving the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Learn more
Fountain pen signing a document, close view with center focus
Practice Group

Employment Law

Ogletree Deakins’ employment lawyers are experienced in all aspects of employment law, from day-to-day advice to complex employment litigation.

Learn more
American flag flapping in front of corporate office building in Lower Manhattan
Practice Group

Governmental Affairs

Ogletree Governmental Affairs, Inc. (OGA), a subsidiary of Ogletree Deakins, is a full service legislative and regulatory affairs consulting firm, dedicated to helping clients solve their problems with the public sector. OGA unites the skills and experience of government relations professionals with the talent of the Firm’s lawyers to provide solutions to regulatory issues outside the courtroom.

Learn more

Sign up to receive emails about new developments and upcoming programs.

Sign Up Now