Executive Order 13985 · 2021-01-25

Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government

Directs Federal Government to Advance Racial Equity for Underserved Communities

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Signed by Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Published 2021-01-25

What it does

Agencies must assess whether their programs and policies create barriers for underserved communities and report findings and plans to address them.

Real-world impact

  • Requires agency reviews and reports within 200 days on barriers to access.
  • Directs the Office of Management and Budget to study assessment methods and report within six months.
  • Establishes an interagency Equitable Data Working Group to expand demographic data collection.

Topics

racial equitycivil rightsgovernment programsdata collectionfederal budgeting

Summary

This order directs the Federal Government to pursue a whole-of-government approach to advance equity for people of color and other historically underserved communities. It requires agencies to assess whether their programs and policies create systemic barriers, to report findings within 200 days, and to develop plans to address identified barriers.

The order also directs the Office of Management and Budget to study assessment methods and report within six months, establishes an interagency Equitable Data Working Group to improve demographic data, and revokes two prior executive orders.

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