OFCCP director Ashley Romanias has left the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) after just seven months in the role. This compliance alert looks at the wider context of efforts to shutter the OFCCP and what federal contractors need to consider going forward.
Summary
On May 1, Bloomberg Law reported that Ashley Romanias, then OFCCP director, had announced her exit from the agency in an internal communication. Romanias had only been in the role since September 30, 2025, replacing Catherine Eschbach after her move to the EEOC. Kenneth Wolfe, who also holds the Directorship of the recently established Center for Faith, is currently listed as the Director of the OFCCP on the agency website, alongside Deputy Director Diana Sen.
As the third director of the OFCCP during the current administration, Wolfe inherits an agency that the White House is keen to shut down. After the rescission of EO 11246, the OFCCP’s remit has narrowed to VEVRAA and Section 503 affirmative action. Though it failed to zero out funding for 2026, the White House’s proposed fiscal year budget for 2027 has again proposed the elimination of the agency.
Who Is Impacted and What Actions Are Required?
The change of director is unlikely to have any direct impact on federal contractors, and is perhaps more notable as a symptom of the OFCCP’s tenuous future amid the White House’s defunding effort.
The aforementioned fiscal budget proposed moving the OFCCP’s VEVRAA and Section 503 responsibilities to the Office of Civil Rights, which could change how federal contracts are administered in the future. However, final funding remains the responsibility of Congress, and the elimination of the agency isn’t yet a certainty.
In the meantime, federal contractors and subcontractors are in a holding pattern: they must continue to observe their existing legal obligations and efforts until proposed changes are formalized.
How Affirmity Can Help
Affirmity continues to support federal contractors and leading organizations to proactively comply with the evolving employment law landscape. We offer:
- AAP support for Section 503 and VEVRAA, ensuring you comply with items under the OFCCP’s current remit
- Race and gender non-discrimination analysis, helping you maintain clean, defensible workforce data, and prepare for enforcement realignment
About the Author
Kim Hendon oversees account management and sales for Affirmity. She is responsible for building successful, long-term partnerships with clients and generating new business. Having served with the company for more than 25 years, Ms. Hendon has in-depth knowledge and broad experience in all areas of workforce analytics and HR compliance.
Ms. Hendon assists clients with the planning and development of workforce compliance and non-discrimination programs, as well as employee engagement initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication and a Master’s in Business Administration. Connect with her on LinkedIn.