photo credit: www.pickardchilton.com, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons Diversity, Equality, Inclusion by Sidnee Michelle Judge Orders Northwestern Mutual To Hand Over DEI Records In EEOC Probe The ruling marks another legal test of corporate DEI programs as federal regulators increase scrutiny of workplace diversity policiesA federal judge has ordered Northwestern Mutual to comply with a U.S. The July 30 ruling marks another legal test of corporate DEI programs as federal regulators increase scrutiny of workplace diversity policies and whether they comply with federal anti-discrimination law. Northwestern Mutual has denied the allegations, arguing the employee was not selected because another candidate was more qualified and maintaining that its DEI programs do not permit employment decisions based on race, sex, or any other protected characteristic. Ludwig disagreed, concluding the requested documents could be relevant to the agency’s investigation and ordering Northwestern Mutual to comply with the subpoena while preserving confidentiality protections for sensitive employee information. The case comes as the EEOC, under Acting Chair Andrea Lucas, has stepped up scrutiny of corporate DEI programs following executive actions from the Trump administration aimed at eliminating what it describes as unlawful workplace preferences.