The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit against The New York Times on Tuesday, alleging the newspaper engaged in discriminatory hiring practices against a white male employee.

The federal employment watchdog claims the Times improperly passed over the employee for a promotion to deputy real estate editor, a position that was posted in January 2025. According to the complaint, the employee believed he was significantly more qualified than other candidates but was denied the promotion based on his race and sex.

The EEOC accused the newspaper of violating federal employment law through what it characterized as "unlawful employment practices." The commission alleged the Times discriminated against the employee in its promotion decision-making process.

The lawsuit represents an enforcement action by the federal agency, which is responsible for investigating workplace discrimination complaints and pursuing legal remedies when violations are found. The Times has not yet publicly responded to the allegations contained in the federal complaint.

The case involves allegations related to diversity and hiring practices at one of the nation's most prominent news organizations. The EEOC's filing seeks to address what it claims was improper consideration of race and sex in the newspaper's employment decisions.