{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-regarding-lockheed-martin-diversity-training", "Cotton Demands Answers Regarding Lockheed Martin Diversity Training", "2021-06-02", "2021", "2021-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: James Arnold or Mary Collins Atkinson (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 2, 2021\n\nCotton Demands Answers Regarding Lockheed Martin Diversity Training\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) wrote a letter to James Taiclet, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation, demanding information regarding a three-day diversity training reportedly held for white male executives in June 2020.\n\nIn part, Cotton wrote, \u201cFacilitators allegedly encouraged Lockheed executives to \u2018free associate\u2019 stereotypes about various groups. The stereotypes allegedly generated by your executives include that white men are \u2018racist,\u2019 \u2018privileged,\u2019 \u2018set in their ways,\u2019 and \u2018KKK.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cThis training, if it occurred, appears to violate the principle of equal treatment that is the bedrock of American law, including civil-rights law,\u201dCotton continued.\n\nText of the letter may be found here or below.\n\nJune 2, 2021\n\nMr. James Taiclet\n\nPresident and Chief Executive Officer\n\nLockheed Martin Corporation\n\n6801 Rockledge Drive\n\nBethesda, MD 20817\n\nDear Mr. Taiclet,\n\nIn June 2020, Lockheed Martin reportedly held a three-day diversity training for white male executives, who were referred to during the program as the \u201cWhite Men\u2019s Caucus.\u201d The alleged training was led by a group called White Men as Full Diversity Partners. Materials distributed by this organization include lists of stereotypes about the supposed \u201cprivilege\u201d enjoyed by various groups, including white people, males, and heterosexuals. For example, the section on \u201cwhite privilege\u201d lists the stereotypes that whites are taught to \u201cminimize the perspectives and powers of people of other races\u201d and are less likely to die in interactions with police. The section on \u201cmale privilege\u201d lists the stereotypes that men are \u201cnot expected to be overly attentive or to wait on people.\u201d Facilitators allegedly encouraged Lockheed executives to \u201cfree associate\u201d stereotypes about various groups. The stereotypes allegedly generated by your executives include that white men are \u201cracist,\u201d \u201cprivileged,\u201d \u201cset in their ways,\u201d and \u201cKKK.\u201d\n\nThis training, if it occurred, appears to violate the principle of equal treatment that is the bedrock of American law, including civil-rights law. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in particular forbids employers from discriminating on the basis of race and engaging in any activities that \u201climit, segregate, or classify [their] employees.\u201d The previous administration observed that the kind of stereotyping and scapegoating commonly found in these trainings \u201cmay contribute to a hostile work environment and give rise to potential liability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.\u201d\n\nWith these concerns in mind, please provide answers to the following questions by June 11, 2021:\n\n1. Did this diversity training for Lockheed Martin executives take place as described?\n\n2. How many Lockheed Martin employees have been subjected to this kind of training?\n\n3. Did Lockheed Martin select employees to participate in this training? If yes, on what basis were they selected? Was this training given to employees who are not white men?\n\n4.Was the training mandatory or voluntary? Were employees told they were allowed to opt out of the training?\n\n5. Please list the vendors that Lockheed Martin employs to administer Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion trainings to its employees and the materials distributed to participants in those trainings.\n\n6. If it occurred, please explain how this training, which relies on stereotypes and appears to segregate employees on the basis of race and sex, complies with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:57:00Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-demands-answers-regarding-lockheed-martin-diversity-training"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7150170858949423, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}