Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.
USDA Title VI Fact Sheet
This USDA fact sheet from September 2023 describes the ways Title VI protections cover individuals who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, or of another religious group.
Discrimination on the Basis of Sex
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance
Age Discrimination
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 prohibits employment discrimination against persons 40 years of age or older.
Age Discrimination Act of 1975
The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008)
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life.
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by federal agencies, federal contractors, and programs receiving federal funds.
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment against individuals with disabilities and requires employers take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain these individuals.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in federally conducted and assisted programs or activities.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires federal agencies to ensure employees and members of the public with disabilities have access to information comparable to the access available to others.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Title 7 of the CFR contains the federal regulations related to agriculture and food programs in the United States.
7 C.F.R §15 (Part 15—Nondiscrimination)
Effectuates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to any programs and/or activities that receive or benefit from Federal financial assistance from the USDA.
7 C.F.R §15a.31 (Subpart D—Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs and Activities Prohibited)
Effectuates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to education programs and/or activities that receive or benefit from Federal financial assistance from the USDA.
7 C.F.R §15b (Part 15b—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance)
Implements Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to programs and/or activities that receive or benefit from Federal financial assistance from the USDA.
7 C.F.R §15c (Part 15c—Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Age in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance From the United States Department of Agriculture)
Implements the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 to programs and/or activities that receive or benefit from Federal financial assistance from the USDA.
Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Executive Order 14224, “Designating English as the Official Language of the United States.” (revokes E.O. 13166, however note section 3(b) for continued mission purposes)
On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14224 designating English as the official language of the United States. The executive order does not force federal agencies or federally funded programs to eliminate language support services or documents. Federal agencies determine service delivery based on mission criticality.
Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.” (revoked by E.O. 14224)
On August 11, 2000, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13166 which required federal agencies to prepare a language access plan to improve access to its federally conducted programs and activities and draft Title VI guidance specifically tailored to recipients of Federal financial assistance.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture LEP Guidance
The purpose and objective of the NIFA LEP language access planning and implementation is to ensure that NIFA recipients and cooperators communicate effectively with Limited English Proficient beneficiaries.
USDA Departmental Regulations
USDA regulations are developed to ensure compliance with all relevant federal laws, executive orders, directives, and policies.
Departmental Regulation 4300-003 - Equal Opportunity Public Notification Policy
This regulation establishes the USDA’s policy for ensuring positive and continuing notification of its equal opportunity policy to the public.
Departmental Regulation 4300-004 - Civil Rights Impact Analysis
This regulation establishes the USDA’s civil rights policy and procedures for USDA federally assisted programs.
Departmental Regulation 4330-002 - Nondiscrimination in Programs and Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance From USDA
This regulation establishes the USDA’s policy for ensuring programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance from USDA comply with applicable civil rights laws.
USDA Policy Statement & Secretary Memoranda
The USDA maintains key policy statements and directives covering civil rights, anti-harassment, and equal employment opportunity. The USDA Secretary's Memoranda are official statements from the Secretary of Agriculture and provide the legal basis for administrative actions within the USDA.
USDA Civil Rights Policy Statement 6.8.22
USDA Anti-Harassment Policy Statement 1.8.26
USDA Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement 1.8.26
Nine Agency Rule Notification
The USDA Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) recently sent out priority guidance regarding the revised 7 CFR Part 16 “Nine Agency Rule” on July 2, 2024. The revisions have clarified various provisions regarding notification requirements under the rule, which reestablishes important religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of federally funded social services (all extension programs).
AGNR operating units in whole or in part were required to alert beneficiaries, via the Nine Agency Rule Notification – USDA Notification to Beneficiaries, such programs and services are delivered on a nondiscriminatory basis through the utilization of public notification requirements and the University of Maryland's Policy on Nondiscrimination and Procedures VI-100 (B).