Federal agencies clarify Title VI discrimination

The Biden administration issued a fact sheet Thursday in which it said eight federal agencies have “clarified”’ that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits certain forms of antisemitic, Islamophobic and related forms of discrimination in federally funded programs and activities.

The fact sheet says the agencies — the Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Treasury and Transportation — will also ensure that their staffs understand and are ready to respond to this kind of discrimination and continue to investigate complaints under Title VI and other civil rights authorities.

The fact sheet provides detailed information on measures undertaken by each of the agencies. For example, it says the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security agency at DHS is expanding security services to historically targeted communities, including Jewish communities, such as with sessions on active shooter preparedness sessions.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said earlier this month that the top priority for its 2024-2028 strategic enforcement plan will be targeting discrimination, bias and hate directed against religious minorities, including antisemitism and Islamophobia, racial or ethnic groups, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

A 2022 survey found that more than half of Jewish respondents have experienced discrimination at work.