Fired HHS chief equity officer Dia Harris sues department alleging discrimination and retaliation
Key points
- Former HHS chief equity officer Dia Harris, who is Black, alleges he was fired
- He alleges the firing was based on racial discrimination and retaliation, and that White employees alleged to have done DEI work were not fired
- The claims are allegations and have not been adjudicated by a court
Former federal worker Dia Harris sued the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), alleging he was wrongfully terminated. Harris, who is Black, was chief equity officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. After being placed on leave, he was fired. He alleges the firing was based on racial discrimination and retaliation: he says White employees alleged to have done DEI work were not fired, and that he had opposed discriminatory practices within the agency. The claims are allegations and have not been proven. This is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice.
What employers should do
- Document the objective basis for termination decisions and retain records
- Establish a consistent process for investigating and responding to internal complaints of discrimination or retaliation
Policy details
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Status
- Enforcement action
- Effective date
- —
- Employers covered
- Federal agency HHS
- Official source
- Official source pending
Original report: Bloomberg Law News ↗Edited with AI assistance. Facts are based on official sources and original reports. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.