On August 28, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) published the proposed rule that would significantly revise the federal-sector EEO complaint process under 29 C.F.R. Part 1614.

The EEOC published its proposed overhaul of federal-sector EEO complaint processing on August 28, 2026. The proposal would eliminate mandatory pre-complaint counseling, move hearings until after an agency’s final decision and only when authorized by EEOC on appeal, eliminate administrative class-complaint adjudication, permit joint processing of related cases, revise mixed-case procedures, and strengthen EEO-program independence.

This is only a proposal. Existing Part 1614 procedures remain in effect. Comments are due September 28, 2026.

Here is the proposed rule in the Federal Register.