Which federal agency is responsible for enforcing employment discrimination laws?

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is the federal agency tasked with enforcing laws against employment discrimination. This includes discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information. The EEOC investigates complaints of discrimination, facilitates mediation, and can bring lawsuits on behalf of individuals who have been harmed by discriminatory practices.

The EEOC's role is crucial in protecting the rights of employees and applicants and ensuring that workplaces are free from unfair treatment based on personal characteristics unrelated to job performance. Its comprehensive authority and dedicated focus on employment discrimination make it the primary agency in this area, unlike other agencies mentioned that have different responsibilities. For instance, the Department of Labor focuses on broader labor issues, including wage standards and workplace safety, while the Federal Trade Commission deals primarily with issues related to market competition and consumer protection. The Equal Rights Division (ERD) may function at a state level, often handling local discrimination cases, but lacks the specific federal enforcement authority that the EEOC possesses. Thus, the EEOC is the correct choice for this question.