The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against The New York Times on Tuesday, alleging that it violated federal law when it passed up a white male employee for a promotion because of his race or sex.

The lawsuit reflects a shift in the Trump administration to litigation claims over alleged reverse discrimination, following his executive order last year that went after public and private diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

But a Times spokesperson has characterized the litigation as “politically motivated.” The media outlet has long been a target of the president’s attacks.

The lawsuit claims that a longtime editor, a white man with extensive experience in real estate journalism, was left out of final interviews for a deputy real estate editor position early last year.…