Advancing an Equitable Government

Sustaining an equitable future

On his first day in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 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 changes, and bold actions commensurate with the nation’s greatest challenges. To strengthen the Federal Government’s ability to address the barriers that underserved communities continue to face, President Biden signed Executive Order 14091, Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, on February 16, 2023. Executive Order 14091 reaffirms the Administration’s commitment to make real the promise of America for everyone, including by directing agencies to: purposefully dedicate expertise and personnel to equity efforts; expand Federal investment in rural and urban communities that have been locked out of opportunity; improve the quality, frequency, and accessibility of community engagement; address emerging civil rights risks; and promote data equity and transparency.

Under the guidance of the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at the White House, Federal agencies continue to: assess how their policies and actions (e.g., programs, services, processes, and operations) perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunity; develop and implement evidence-based solutions to advance equity and justice; exercise innovative approaches to public participation and community engagement; participate in interagency equity learning communities; and embed equity in the everyday business of Government.

These historic efforts are driven by annual agency Equity Action Plans that focus on specific agency strategies to redress inequities and promote equitable outcomes across America.

The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to holding Federal agencies accountable for results, and leveraging all existing policy, regulatory, and budget mechanisms to accomplish the monumental task of ensuring the Government works for all people. We will continue partnering with and learning from the American people as we work to forge a nation in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.

Hearing from the public

Executive Order 13985 charged OMB to identify and report to the President effective methods for assessing whether agency policies and actions equitably serve all eligible individuals and communities, particularly those who are underserved. As part of that effort, OMB issued a Request for Information (RFI) in 2021 to seek input, information, and recommendations from a broad array of cross-sector stakeholders.

OMB received and analyzed nearly 500 responses addressing the following areas: Equity Assessments and Strategies, Barrier and Burden Reduction, Procurement and Contracting, Financial Assistance, and Stakeholder and Community Engagement. In addition to reviewing and incorporating relevant recommendations from these responses into their work, Federal agencies continue to engage the public, including underserved communities, on the development and implementation of equity-related efforts.

• Review OMB's Equity RFI