A Republican congressman grilled the Biden administration’s Secretary of Labor Julie Su over a proposed rule that would force companies involved in the Department of Labor’s apprenticeship program to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures.
If enacted, the proposed rule would seek to “diversify the National Apprenticeship System by enhancing worker protections and equity,” embedding DEI practices in the nationwide program to connect employers with workers looking for skilled labor opportunities.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) highlighted for Su during a hearing on the rule an agency document claiming that many apprenticeship programs involved in the DOL initiative are “actively hostile” to the idea of hiring women or racial minorities.
“Can you explain what that means?” Banks asked, referencing the claim that many employers involved in the apprenticeship program…
