Feds Hit Moving Company with $15M Fine—Goldwater Fights Back

Why has the federal government spent nearly a decade investigating a successful moving company for “age discrimination”—and is now suing it, seeking a $15-million fine—all with no victim or complaint against it? The Goldwater Institute is taking legal action to find out.

In 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), under the Obama Administration, began an investigation into Meathead Movers, a California-based, family-owned company. Now the EEOC is pursuing an extremely rare “agency-initiated” lawsuit against the company—only a handful are brought this way every year. In March, the Goldwater Institute filed a public records request demanding answers: Were any complaints filed? Has the EEOC taken similar action against other companies? The agency refused to respond. This week, Goldwater formally appealed that denial—its first legal step to force disclosure. If the EEOC continues to stonewall, Goldwater will sue in federal court.

The flimsy basis of that investigation—supposed age discrimination—is as baseless as it is absurd. The company hires employees capable of doing the job of moving, and there’s no evidence of any complaints against it. And when owner Aaron Steed dared to speak out, the federal government silenced him with a gag order, threatening legal consequences if he shared his side of the story.

“The EEOC is demanding that we pay an amount that we simply can’t afford for something that we absolutely did not do wrong,” Steed said. “There’s no one that stood up and said, ‘Meathead Movers discriminated against me.”

“Meathead Movers represents the best of American entrepreneurship, explained Jon Riches, Vice President for Litigation at the Goldwater Institute. “The company is built on a culture of personal responsibility and excellence—symbolized by its signature practice of having employees jog to and from the truck when not carrying furniture.  Its workplace has helped young people develop job skills and discipline that last a lifetime. The Goldwater Institute will not stand by while the federal government destroys and silences Aaron. The EEOC must answer or we’ll see them in court.”

The case raises serious questions about the weaponization of government as Steed has racked up legal bills fighting a bogus charge. Meanwhile, despite these relentless attacks, Meathead Movers hasn’t wavered. The company continues to employ hundreds of workers and uphold its proud tradition of community service—most recently stepping up to lead a disaster relief effort for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires.

The American public deserves to know why the EEOC is pursuing what appears to be a baseless attack against a model small business. And if the agency won’t provide answers voluntarily, we’ll get them—in court if necessary.