A civil rights agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), is under fire for allegedly halting proceedings in a sexual harassment case involving female prison guards. The EEOC is accused of suspending these proceedings as part of a broader effort to pause federal-sector class claims before its administrative judges. Two female prison guards, along with a labor union, filed a lawsuit against the EEOC.
The lawsuit cites an order dated December 10, 2025, from an administrative judge indicating the case had been paused. This notification seemed to apply to all class cases in the federal sector. However, Sharon Rose, EEOC’s Chief Operating Officer, claimed that the judge’s notification was an error and an isolated incident. She stated the EEOC has now assigned the case to another judge, who has scheduled further proceedings. James Harlow, a Justice Department attorney, echoed this in a letter to the plaintiffs, requesting they abandon their motion for a preliminary injunction.
Joseph Sellers, representing the plaintiffs, challenged this explanation. As co-chair of the civil rights and employment practice at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, Sellers pointed to other federal workers’ class complaints that had been delayed, including those involving the FBI and the Department of Defense. Despite the EEOC’s assertion, Sellers argued the timing suggests the suspension was more than an isolated incident and not merely an error.
The lawsuit was initiated by the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest union for federal workers, and two correctional officers from Louisiana’s Federal Correctional Complex in Pollock. The complaint alleges that management failed to protect female workers from harassment by inmates. Under previous administration policies, the EEOC reportedly shifted its focus, which led to criticism and legal challenges against its leadership.
The EEOC has not issued any official directives to administrative judges to suspend class cases, according to Rose. The agency referred inquiries to the Justice Department, which has not provided comments.