Trump Appoints Kaplan as NLRB Chair, Lucas as EEOC Acting Chair

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday appointed Marvin Kaplan as chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Andrea Lucas as acting chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The appointments mark significant leadership changes in two key federal agencies overseeing labor and employment laws.

Kaplan, the sole Republican on the NLRB, replaces Lauren McFerran, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden. Kaplan’s term expires in August, and the board currently has two open seats. “The President’s announcement is an honor and privilege, and I look forward to serving as Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board,” Kaplan said in a statement. Prior to his NLRB role, Kaplan served as chief counsel to the chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Lucas, the only Republican commissioner at the EEOC, succeeds Charlotte Burrows, who has chaired the agency since 2021. Lucas’ term is set to expire in July. “I am honored to be chosen by President Trump to lead the EEOC, our nation’s premier civil rights agency enforcing federal employment antidiscrimination laws,” Lucas said. She emphasized her commitment to addressing issues such as unlawful DEI-motivated discrimination, protecting women’s rights, and combating religious bias and antisemitism.

Before joining the EEOC in 2020, Lucas practiced labor and employment law at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washington, D.C. She also clerked for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Lucas has been vocal about challenging emerging issues in employment law, aiming to educate workers and employers alike.

The EEOC, the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate employment discrimination cases, plays a critical role in enforcing civil rights laws. Lucas highlighted her focus on ensuring equal justice under the law, stating, “I intend to dispel the notion that only the ‘right sort of’ charging party is welcome through our doors.”

Both appointments were widely anticipated as part of the administration’s efforts to reshape federal labor and employment policies. The NLRB oversees collective bargaining and unfair labor practices, while the EEOC enforces laws against workplace discrimination based on race, sex, religion, and other protected categories.