Labor Department final rule removes gender identity and sexual orientation from the Registered Apprenticeship equal-opportunity regulations

The final rule "Prohibiting Illegal Discrimination in Registered Apprenticeship Programs" (91 FR 70164, Docket ETA-2025-0006) amends 29 CFR Parts 29 and 30, finalizing the July 2025 proposal. It rescinds the Part 30 affirmative action requirements and removes the references to gender identity and sexual orientation as protected bases in 29 CFR 30.3, citing Executive Order 14168. The preamble rejects commenters' argument that Bostock v. Clayton County requires keeping gender identity protections. Changes to the apprenticeship information collection (OMB 1205-0223) are deferred to a future 60-day notice.