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Advancing an equitable government

What is Equity?

Equity means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality. (Executive Order 13985)

Working Toward an Equitable Future

On his first day in office, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, directing Federal agencies to advance equity for all Americans through an unprecedented transformation of decision-making processes, policy change, and bold actions commensurate with the nation’s greatest challenges.

Throughout 2021, under the guidance of the Domestic Policy Council (DPC) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Federal agencies assessed how their programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunity; participated in an ongoing government-wide Equity Learning Community; exercised innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement; and developed evidence-based solutions to advance equity. These initial efforts culminated in a historic package of Equity Action Plans from over 90 Federal agencies. The Equity Action Plans represent specific agency commitments to redress inequities and to promote equitable outcomes in communities.

Beyond the first year of launching this foundational government-wide assessment and planning effort, the Biden Administration is committed to holding Federal agencies accountable for results, and leveraging all existing regulatory, policy, and budget mechanisms to drive implementation and sustainable change. We look forward to engaging with communities and other stakeholders on how we may collectively work together to support implementation of these Equity Action Plans and forge a nation in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.

Hearing from the Public

EO 13985 charged OMB to identify effective and available methods, approaches, and tools for assessing whether agency policies and actions (e.g., programs, services, processes, and operations) equitably serve all eligible individuals and communities, particularly those that are currently and historically underserved. As a part of this effort, OMB issued a Request for Information (RFI) to seek input, information, and recommendations from a broad array of cross-sector stakeholders.

OMB received and analyzed nearly 500 responses addressing the following five areas: Equity Assessments and Strategies, Barrier and Burden Reduction, Procurement and Contracting, Financial Assistance, and Stakeholder and Community Engagement.

Review OMB's Equity RFI Summary

Executive Order 13985

Equal opportunity is the bedrock of American democracy... Entrenched disparities in our laws and public policies, and in our public and private institutions, have often denied that equal opportunity to individuals and communities... Our Nation deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face. It is therefore the policy of my Administration that the Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

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Agency Action Plans

Equity Action Plans

Equity Action Plans were submitted by over 90 Federal agencies, including all Cabinet and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Act Agencies, as well as more than 50 independent agencies that voluntarily participated, in recognition of the value and urgency of applying an equity lens to improve agency performance and service delivery. These Equity Action Plans represent specific agency commitments to redress inequities and to promote equitable outcomes in communities.

AANHPI Plans

On May 28, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 14031, Advancing Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, establishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). In its first year, the Initiative collected comprehensive action plans from 32 Federal agencies, which collectively represent the Administration's national strategy to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities.



CIA Central Intelligence Agency Agency equity action plan
AMERICORPS Corporation for National and Community Service Agency equity action plan
CEA Council of Economic Advisors Agency equity action plan
CEQ Council on Environmental Quality Agency equity action plan
CSOSA Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia Agency equity action plan
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency Agency equity action plan
NEA National Endowment for the Arts Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
NEH National Endowment for the Humanities Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
ONDCP Office of National Drug Control Policy Agency equity action plan
ONHIR Office of Navajo Hopi Indian Relocation Agency equity action plan
OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
ODNI Office of the Director of National Intelligence Agency equity action plan
USTR Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
PC Peace Corps Agency equity action plan
SI Smithsonian Institution Agency equity action plan
USICH U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Agency equity action plan
OGE U.S. Office of Government Ethics Agency equity action plan
UDALL Udall Foundation Agency equity action plan

ACUS Administrative Conference of the United States Agency equity action plan
ACHP Advisory Council of Historic Preservation Agency equity action plan
ABMC American Battle Monuments Commission Agency equity action plan
ARC Appalachian Regional Commission Agency equity action plan
CSHIB Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Agency equity action plan
CFA Commission of Fine Arts Agency equity action plan
USCCR Commission on Civil Rights Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission Agency equity action plan
CFPB Consumer Protection Finance Bureau Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
DRA Delta Region Authority Agency equity action plan
DENALI Denali Commission Agency equity action plan
EAC Election Assistance Commission Agency equity action plan
EXIM Export-Import Bank of the U.S. Agency equity action plan
FCC Federal Communications Commission Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Agency equity action plan
FFIEC-ASC Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council - Appraisal Subcommittee Agency equity action plan
FMC Federal Maritime Commission Agency equity action plan
FMCS Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Agency equity action plan
FMSHRC Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission Agency equity action plan
FRTIB Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Agency equity action plan
FTC Federal Trade Commission Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
GCERC Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Agency equity action plan
IAIA Insititute of American Indian Arts Agency equity action plan
IMLS Institute of Museum and Library Services Agency equity action plan
IAF Inter-American Foundation Agency equity action plan
JUSFC Japan-US Friendship Commission Agency equity action plan
MMC Marine Mammal Commission Agency equity action plan
MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation Agency equity action plan
NARA National Archives Agency equity action plan
NCPC National Capital Planning Commission Agency equity action plan
NCD National Council on Disability Agency equity action plan
NLRB National Labor Relations Board Agency equity action plan
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board Agency equity action plan
NBRC Northern Border Regional Commission Agency equity action plan
OSHRC Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Agency equity action plan
PBGC Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Agency equity action plan
PT Presidio Trust Agency equity action plan
PSA Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia Agency equity action plan
PCLOB Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Agency equity action plan
PDSDC Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia Agency equity action plan
STB Surface Transportation Board Agency equity action plan
TVA Tennessee Valley Authority Agency equity action plan
USA1 U.S. AbilityOne Commission Agency equity action plan
AB U.S. Access Board Agency equity action plan
USAGM U.S. Agency for Global Media Agency equity action plan
EEOC U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Agency equity action plan AANHPI agency plan
HMM U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Agency equity action plan
DFC U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Agency equity action plan
MSPB U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board Agency equity action plan
NWTRB U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board Agency equity action plan
USTDA U.S. Trade and Development Agency Agency equity action plan
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