Section 503

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A newly released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report calls on the Department of Labor (DOL) to strengthen its oversight of federal contractors’ compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and provide more guidance to help them meet their obligations. DOL agreed with six of GAO’s eight recommendations but neither agreed nor disagreed with the…

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has finalized changes to its regulations under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, eliminating several longstanding disability-related affirmative action requirements for federal contractors. The final rule is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Aug. 21, 2026.

Under the Section…

On July 16, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved a three-year extension of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs’ (OFCCP) information collection requirements under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The approval covers the CC-305 Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability form and related recordkeeping requirements for federal contractors. It continues…

As of October 1, 2025, the jurisdictional thresholds for two key regulations impacting federal contractors—the Rehabilitation Act (Section 503) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA)—have increased. These changes stem from an inflationary adjustment statute that authorizes the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to review and update acquisition-related thresholds in statutes governing federal procurement.…

In conjunction with the recent proposed rule changes to the Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 503) and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA) regulations, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced OFCCP has the authority to resume its enforcement activities related to veterans and individuals with disabilities.

On…

OFCCP has published proposed modifications to the VEVRAA and Section 503 regulations which govern federal contractor affirmative action obligations for veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The proposed changes to the veterans’ regulations are largely procedural – removing references to Executive Order 11246 and its implementing regulations – resulting in the veterans’ regulations being wholly self-contained…

OFCCP’s website reflects Michael Schloss has been appointed to the Deputy Director for Policy Role within the Agency. Michele Hodge, former Acting Director is listed as Deputy Director while the Director role remains vacant. The Deputy Director for Policy would traditionally act in an Acting Director role in this type of situation. As such, the…

Late in the day on January 23, 2025, the Office of Federal Compliance Programs (OFCCP) sent out its first official agency communication since President Trump’s historic Executive Order “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” revoked Executive Order 11246 (Equal Employment Opportunity).

In an email to stakeholders, OFCCP acknowledged the revocation of EO 11246, noting…

As its first official act of the 2025 Fiscal Year, OFCCP announced the release of a revised Scheduling Letter and Itemized Listing for Construction contractors. The release follows the Agency’s February 2024 publication of proposed changes to the letter and despite its release on October 2, 2024 will apply to any construction audits initiated…