Democratic Senator's Job Posting Sparks Republican Backlash Over Who Is Encouraged to Apply: 'Illegal'
Ed Markey's Internship Post Encouraging BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Applicants Sparks Discrimination Accusations, Claims Civil Rights Law Violation
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In their final debate before the Sept. 1 Democratic primary, incumbent Sen. Ed Markey, D, and Rep. Seth Moulton, D, square off on transgender athletes, ICE, socialism and term limits. (Credit: WCVB)
A Democratic senator is facing allegations of racial and gender discrimination over a controversial social media post encouraging members of minority groups to apply for a position in his office.
"I am hiring motivated and enthusiastic interns for the spring 2027 semester in my Boston office. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class, veterans and other underrepresented candidates with Massachusetts ties are encouraged to apply," Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., posted to X on Tuesday.
"Are white men allowed to apply, Senator?" Texas Rep. Brandon Gill shot the X on Tuesday.
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Conservatives at X were outraged by the post, with some going so far as to claim the senator's post was illegal.
Conservative activist Chris Ruffo wrote: "Insane that a US Senator can blatantly violate the Civil Rights Act on Twitter."
"This is patently illegal," wrote Katie Miller, podcaster and wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has previously issued guidelines that encourage applicants with certain backgrounds to apply for jobs does not necessarily violate federal discrimination law. However, the agency also warns that job ads that express preferences based on race, gender or other protected characteristics may be illegal.
The Congressional Accountability Act also applies federal protections against workplace discrimination to congressional offices.
Despite questions raised by Gill and others about whether some applicants are favored, the actual job posting on Markey's Senate website does not bar white people from applying.
Other conservatives declined to accuse Markey of breaking the law, but described his hiring practices as unfair.
"You realize it's never, 'I'm resigning my Senate seat because white men have too much power,' or 'I'm donating my house to close the racial wealth gap,'" wrote online commentator Bernard Stanford. "It would at least be a personal decision. But no—the burden of white men's sacrifice is always placed on someone else's shoulders."
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"Democrats will write stuff like this and then wonder why young white men have rejected their party in droves," said journalist Corey Walker.
"This is troubling, especially coming from the ranking member of the Senate Small Business Committee," Kelly Loeffler, director of the Small Business Administration, posted on her X account. "From day one, we've said: Politicians must stop picking winners and losers — and stop turning every government program into a DEI injury. America's entrepreneurs compete on merit, not identity. That principle should be non-negotiable for anyone tasked with shaping our nation's small business policy."
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