A national restaurant chain is facing new scrutiny this week after a high‑profile legal group filed formal complaints accusing it of breaking civil rights laws through its hiring and promotion practices.
On Monday, America First Legal—an organization known for its alignment with pro‑Trump causes—filed complaints with both the Tennessee Attorney General and the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. The group claims Cracker Barrel has been running employment programs that favor certain workers based on race, sex, or other protected characteristics.
The documents filed by America First Legal cite public filings, archived web pages, and Cracker Barrel’s own descriptions of its internal initiatives. According to the group, Cracker Barrel’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs—recently rebranded as “Culture and Belonging”—go far beyond slogans. They allege the programs amount to illegal frameworks that reward some employees and exclude others.
Trump-aligned America First Legal files complaints with federal government and state of Tennessee alleging Cracker Barrel’s diversity policies discriminate against white male, heterosexual employees. https://t.co/K0xVF8C44E
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 21, 2025
One focus is on Cracker Barrel’s Business Resource Groups. These employee groups, which the company highlights in public reports, are designed around specific communities. For example, the “Be Bold” group supports the development of Black leaders through mentorship and education. Another group, HOLA, focuses on Hispanic and Latino culture and talent. There are also groups for LGBT employees, for employees with neurological differences, and for women.
According to the complaint, these groups come with real benefits—career guidance, networking opportunities, and leadership tracks—that are not always available to everyone. America First Legal argues that by design, these programs create unequal opportunities, something federal and state law prohibit.
The group also points to internal reporting categories that label board candidates as “Diverse” or “Not‑Diverse.” They highlight the company’s own public statements saying that, when selecting board members, the nominating committee considers diversity of age, gender, race, and ethnic background. They also point to Cracker Barrel’s DELTA program, which specifically seeks out what the company calls “diverse managers” and helps them advance into leadership.
Cracker Barrel has described these programs as part of a larger effort to build an inclusive workforce. Public filings show the company has increased representation of women and ethnic minorities in management and hourly positions since fiscal year 2022. In those same filings, Cracker Barrel says nearly 70% of its employees are women.
We take no pleasure in reporting that @CrackerBarrel has fallen.
A once family friendly establishment has caved to the mob. pic.twitter.com/IM0p1NT20S
— Texas Family Project (@FamilyProjectTX) June 8, 2023
America First Legal argues that these numbers, combined with the company’s own language, show a pattern of discrimination. The group claims that under state and federal law, no one can be denied equal treatment because of their race or sex, even in the name of diversity. Their complaint cites decades of court rulings and includes a direct challenge to the company’s DEI approach.
The complaints request investigations, access to internal documents, and action by state and federal agencies to stop any practices that violate civil rights law. They also ask for a review of whether Cracker Barrel used outside contractors to bypass existing protections.
No official response from Cracker Barrel has been reported as of now. The legal process is just beginning, and both supporters and critics of the company are waiting to see what investigators will uncover.
