Federal government lays out action plans to achieve racial, economic equity

WHITE HOUSE

President Biden's advisor Susan Rice hosted the unveiling of of the government's equity plans..

 

A year after, President Biden signed Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

That historic Executive Order directed the whole of the federal government to advance an ambitious equity and racial justice agenda.

Thursday, April 15, more than 90 federal agencies, including all Cabinet-level agencies, unveiled the first-ever Equity Action Plans that lay out more than 300 concrete strategies and commitments to address the systemic barriers in our nation’s policies and programs that hold too many underserved communities back from prosperity, dignity, and equality.

Those communities include poor communities, Asian Americans, Blacks, Latinos, tribal, rural and LGBTQ communities; and people with disabilities and women and girls and addresses disaggregating data and fighting the anti-Asian hate acts plaguing the AANHPI communities.

In a meeting with leaders from the AANHPI communities, Biden said that the hate acts are "often met with silence. That’s been true throughout our history, but that has to change — because our silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit. We have to speak out. We have to act."

The action includes developing and implementing the equity plans which were discussed at the Thursday White House event hosted by domestic policy adviser Susan Rice, budget director Shalanda Young and members of the Cabinet.

“Improving access to Justice Department programs and services is critical to ensuring equal justice under law and promoting public safety,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Department’s Equity Action Plan is designed to increase equity, opportunity, and resources to our most vulnerable communities.”

Since Jan. 20, 2021, the Department has taken many steps to advance equity for marginalized communities, including by combating hate crimes and hate incidents, revitalizing the Community Relations Service, re-establishing the Office for Access to Justice, ensuring non-discrimination in federal grants, expanding language access, and reforming law enforcement practices. The Department’s Equity Action Plan will build on these ongoing efforts.

"Education has the power to bring the American Dream within reach of every individual, lift communities, draw people together, drive our economy, and meet our nation's vast potential," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "We need to keep the focus on transforming our education system so it truly expands opportunity for all students, no matter their race, background, zip code, age, or family's income.Together, we must take bold action to ensure our nation's schools are defined not by disparities, but by equity and excellence, especially as we recover from the pandemic and reemerge stronger than before."

Advancing equity is not a one-year project—it is a generational commitment. These plans are an important step forward, reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to make the promise of America real for every American, but especially for those communities that historically did not have access to the opportunities provided by the multitude of government programs, services and job openings.

The plans put forth Thursday included implementing the first-ever national strategy on gender equity and equality; working to ensure the federal government is a model for diversity equity, inclusion and accessibility; working to deliver environmental justice through the Justice40 Initiative; and working to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

For more details on the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to advance equity and justice for underserved communities, visit www.whitehouse.gov/equity.