The employment attorneys at Katz Banks Kumin have observed an increased number of inquiries from individuals in both the public and private sector regarding employment protections based on political affiliation and activity.
The increased interest in this topic comes amid a highly charged political environment and the decision by the Trump Administration to terminate the employment of civil service employees across a wide array of government agencies. Additionally, many employees are unclear about their rights and obligations as their employers are retreating from commitments to corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in response to the Administration’s aggressive efforts to eradicate DEI initiatives.
These actions have left many employees in a state of confusion regarding their rights around these issues. Legal protections for discrimination based on political affiliation vary widely based on state law. Below is a broad overview of employment protections across the United States, but as these can vary even by local jurisdiction.
Political affiliation discrimination is not uniformly defined across federal and state law. Generally, it refers to discrimination based on individual political beliefs or membership in a political group.
For example, the District of Columbia Human Rights Act prohibits all employers in the District from refusing to hire, terminating, or otherwise discriminating against any individual with...
On February 26, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a significant False Claims Act (FCA) ruling in United States of America ex rel. Cheryl Taylor v. Healthcare ...