What The Hell America!

Jocelyn Samuels spent a lifetime defending democracy and workers’ rights. Now she’s fighting to protect the agency she helped lead.

Profiles in Courage is a series honoring the extraordinary women and men who have transformed American institutions through principled public service. At a time when trust in government is fragile, these stories offer a powerful reminder of what ethical leadership looks like—from those who litigate for civil rights and resign on principle, to those who break military barriers and defend democracy on the front lines.

This month, we spotlight women in the Department of Justice, federal agencies and the military whose careers have been defined by integrity, resilience and reform. Their quiet heroism—often at personal cost—reaffirms the enduring role of public servants who choose justice over self-interest. Through their stories, Ms. pays tribute to a tradition of service that safeguards democracy and inspires the next generation to lead with courage.

For decades, Jocelyn Samuels has been a steadfast defender of civil rights, a champion for workplace fairness, and a relentless advocate for equal opportunity for all Americans. As a commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), she worked to ensure that millions of U.S. workers were protected from discrimination, harassment and systemic barriers to opportunity.

The EEOC, founded in 1964, is an independent agency charged with enforcing federal workplace protections, investigating tens of thousands of discrimination claims annually, mediating disputes and taking bad actors to court when necessary.

Samuels’ service at the EEOC was a natural continuation of her lifelong commitment to civil rights law, which began in the 1990s and spanned numerous key government positions. Samuels’ expertise, integrity and deep-rooted commitment to justice made her a respected voice in the fight for equal employment rights—so much so that she was initially appointed by President Donald Trump himself in 2020 to fill a Democratic seat on the EEOC. (The EEOC is intended to have five commissioners.)

Yet, in 2025, despite her prior appointment under his first administration, Trump abruptly fired Samuels at the start of his second term—a move she describes as an effort to eviscerate the agency’s work.

Her dismissal was a shock, even though she had heard rumors that the administration was considering removing commissioners before their terms expired. The reason given? Her stance on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and workplace protections for vulnerable communities—a puzzling justification given that she had already been vetted and approved by the prior Trump administration just five years earlier.

“I think it is the perspectives of this administration that have changed,” Samuels observed. And that scares her.

She fears a dangerous rollback of hard-fought civil rights protections, warning that many employers may reverse decades of progress without the EEOC’s leadership. She worries that companies may stop recruiting from underrepresented communities, shut down mentoring programs, and abandon initiatives designed to break down barriers to workplace equality.

Samuels’ departure signals a seismic shift in the future of the EEOC. Although significant policy changes cannot yet be enacted, once Trump stacks the EEOC with extremists, she anticipates a dramatic upheaval, particularly regarding protections for LGBTQ+ employees, gender identity rights and workplace DEI programs.

A Civil Rights Fighter at a Crossroads

Samuels, a woman who has spent her career fighting for the rights of others, found herself at a personal crossroads: The Supreme Court ruled 90 years ago that presidents do not have the power to fire commissioners of independent agencies. Does she challenge her removal in court? Does she become the case that could potentially reshape the authority of independent government agencies?

Ultimately, Samuels decided to fight her unlawful dismissal in court: She filed a lawsuit last month arguing her removal was a violation of the Civil Rights Act. “This abrupt and unlawful termination before my term’s completion not only violates federal law, but fundamentally eviscerates the EEOC’s independent structure,” Samuels said a statement.

While her future may be uncertain, her legacy is indisputable. Jocelyn Samuels has spent a lifetime standing up for workers who lacked the resources to fight back, ensuring that discrimination has no place in America’s workplaces.

Though her tenure at the EEOC has been unjustly cut short, her voice will not be silenced. Her career, courage and conviction will inspire generations of civil rights advocates to continue fighting for workplace justice and equality.