Major Restaurant Chain Faces Civil Rights Complaint For Allegedly Hiring Based On DEI

President Donald Trump began his term with a strong focus on dismantling the “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) frameworks that had, in his view, favored certain demographic groups at the expense of others. This anti-DEI stance has since shaped a broader movement, both culturally and legally, where businesses embracing DEI initiatives are increasingly being challenged in the public square—and in courtrooms.

One of the more notable recent cases involves the restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse. America First Legal (AFL), an organization leading a wave of legal action against DEI practices, filed a complaint against the company. According to AFL, Texas Roadhouse’s hiring and promotion policies give preference to specific demographic groups, and the company actively tracks race, gender, and ethnicity to meet internal diversity goals. AFL argued that these practices not only violate civil rights laws but also pose reputational and financial risks for shareholders.

The group cited Texas Roadhouse’s own disclosures in its 2024 10-K filing, where the company affirmed its commitment to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of its customer base. The filing included demographic data showing the percentage of employees and managers who are women or people of color. AFL contends that such disclosures, along with language from the company’s sustainability report, show a pattern of prioritizing race and gender considerations over qualifications like financial expertise or governance experience when selecting board members.

The legal complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Specifically, AFL accused Texas Roadhouse of considering race and gender in ways that unlawfully discriminate, despite federal protections that prohibit employment practices based on these categories. The complaint also warned that the company’s DEI approach may leave it vulnerable to shareholder lawsuits, suggesting a failure to prioritize investor value.

The story has triggered reactions on social media and was picked up by outlets like the New York Post and Fox News Digital. Texas Roadhouse has not yet commented publicly on the complaint. Meanwhile, another restaurant chain, Cracker Barrel, is facing similar scrutiny from AFL. In that case, the organization claims that Cracker Barrel’s “Business Resource Groups” offer employment perks exclusively to individuals who belong to certain racial or gender groups, which it says also violates anti-discrimination laws.

These developments come in the wake of Trump’s renewed calls to end DEI programs in the public and private sectors, a message he reiterated earlier this year during a congressional address. His administration and legal allies continue to argue that DEI initiatives—once considered a progressive standard in corporate governance—now amount to unlawful discrimination and harm merit-based systems.