The U.S. Department of Labor this week slapped two big employers with penalties after they passed over minority and female job applicants for openings, a stark reminder that being a federal government contractor opens up employers to the risk of having their hiring decisions second-guessed.

The penalties against Boeing Distribution Services and National Office Furniture totaled $635,000 and were among nine such cases announced in October. It’s a sign the DOL is getting more aggressive with enforcement.