Lawsuit Claims EEOC Paused Federal Workers’ Class Complaints

The American Federation of Government Employees and two federal correctional officers sued the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on July 28, 2026, accusing the agency of indefinitely pausing federal-sector class discrimination complaints.

The lawsuit centers on a certified sexual-harassment complaint involving female workers at the Federal Correctional Complex in Pollock, Louisiana. The plaintiffs say the alleged pause has also delayed at least five other class complaints involving federal agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Defense.

The EEOC has not publicly explained the alleged suspension directive, according to The Associated Press. The agency referred questions to the Justice Department, which declined to comment in the report. No court has ruled on whether the directive was issued lawfully or whether the cases must resume.

The Louisiana case at the center

The Pollock complaint alleges that prison management failed to prevent or correct sexual harassment by inmates against female employees, including rape threats, unwanted touching and nudity. The allegations have not been finally resolved.

According to the lawsuit described by AP, an EEOC administrative judge certified the class in March 2025. In December 2025, the judge issued a notice pausing the case until further notice. The plaintiffs say the delay has left workers without a clear timeline for when the proceedings will continue.

AP reported that the complaint included declarations from eight other women and estimated that the class could include at least 182 workers. The Bureau of Prisons did not respond to requests for comment cited in the report.

How federal-sector class complaints normally work

Federal employees use a different discrimination-complaint process from most private-sector workers. The EEOC oversees the federal-sector equal-employment system, and its administrative judges conduct hearings and issue decisions in covered cases. The agency also handles appeals from federal agencies’ decisions.

Under EEOC guidance, a class complaint must identify a policy or practice affecting a group of workers. An administrative judge reviews whether the proposed class meets requirements such as numerosity, commonality, typicality and adequate representation.

If the class is certified, the agency generally must notify potential class members. The case can then move through evidence gathering, settlement discussions and a hearing on the merits. If discrimination is found, the process can include relief for the class as a whole and individual relief for eligible workers. Class members may object to a proposed settlement and later seek individual relief, but they generally may not opt out while the class case is pending.

What the lawsuit asks for

The plaintiffs are asking the court to invalidate the alleged suspension directive. Their attorneys argue that the EEOC cannot halt an entire category of federal-sector class complaints without a reasoned explanation and that the delay conflicts with rules requiring federal-worker complaints to be handled promptly.

The case could affect how quickly groups of federal employees pursue administrative relief, but its immediate scope remains uncertain. AP reported that the plaintiffs’ attorneys say at least five other class cases are stalled, while the number of affected complaints has not been established publicly.

The next developments to watch are filings from the EEOC and Justice Department, any response from the court and whether the Pollock case or other pending class complaints begin moving again. The lawsuit is unresolved, and the underlying harassment allegations remain claims rather than court findings.

Sources

• Associated Press: AFGE sues EEOC over alleged pause in federal class complaints
• EEOC: Overview of the Federal-Sector EEO Complaint Process