NEW YORK, May 5 (Reuters) - The New York Times ( NYT ) was sued on Tuesday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which accused the newspaper of passing over a white man for a top editorial role because of his race and gender, in order to meet what the agency viewed as illegal diversity goals.

In a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, the EEOC said the Times discriminated against the male candidate based on his race or sex, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The reverse discrimination lawsuit reflects EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas' new approach to employment cases, as the agency aligns itself with U.S. President Donald Trump's policies.

Trump, a Republican, has attacked so-called diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in business, and soon after beginning his second White House term issued executive orders to end DEI in the federal government.

"The New York Times ( NYT ) categorically rejects the politically motivated allegations brought by the Trump administration's EEOC," Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha said in a statement. "Our employment practices are merit-based and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world. We will defend ourselves vigorously.

Trump is also suing the Times in a $15 billion defamation lawsuit, accusing it of trying to sabotage his 2024 election campaign and disparage his reputation as a successful businessman.

EEOC SAYS PAPER ACTED WITH 'MALICE' OR 'RECKLESS INDIFFERENCE'

The EEOC sued on behalf of an 11-year Times veteran who sought a promotion to deputy real estate editor in early 2025, after working primarily as a senior staff editor on the international desk.

According to the complaint, the Times had for several years tried to hire more Black, Hispanic and female employees to create a "more diverse, equitable and inclusive" newspaper, and in 2024 decided it needed more non-white "leaders."

The EEOC said that despite being qualified for the promotion, the editor never made it to the final hiring stage, where a less qualified multiracial female was chosen over a white female, Black male and Asian female.

One interviewer called the winning candidate "a bit green overall," and said "I don't see her contributing to the expansion of the coverage in a significant way," the complaint said.

EEOC SHIFTS FOCUS

The EEOC said the Times enforced its unlawful employment practices "with malice or with reckless indifference" toward the rights of the white male editor.

It wants the Times to end those practices, and compensate the editor with back pay, future lost pay and punitive damages.

The Times, in its statement, accused the EEOC of making sweeping claims that ignore the facts to fit a predetermined narrative. Neither race nor gender played a role in this decision -- we hired the most qualified candidate, and she is an excellent editor." 

In a December interview with Reuters, Lucas said "my goal is to shift to a conservative view of civil rights," including "attacking" all forms of race discrimination, including DEI.

The agency's subsequent enforcement activity has included probing whether footwear and apparel company Nike discriminated against white employees, and a lawsuit accusing a Coca-Cola bottler of illegally excluding men from an employee networking event.