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On February 17, 2023, President Biden signed a new Executive Order that is aimed at advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal Government. This is the second Order that the President has signed, building upon the first one that was signed on his first day in office. The first Order emphasized the significant human costs of systemic racism and persistent poverty and provided a powerful and unprecedented mandate for all federal agencies to launch a whole-of-government approach to equity.
The second Order launched a new annual process to strengthen racial equity and support for underserved communities. The President’s administration has made historic progress over the past two years in ensuring that federal programs are serving the American people in an equitable and just manner and supporting communities that have been locked out of opportunity. Despite this progress, underserved communities still face unacceptable barriers to equal opportunity and the American Dream. The new Executive Order aims to address these barriers and deliver equity to build an America in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential.
The Executive Order directs federal agencies to produce an annual public Equity Action Plan that will assess and include actions to address the barriers underserved communities may face in accessing and benefiting from the agency’s policies, programs, and activities. This ensures that federal agencies are held accountable for their progress towards equity. The Order also strengthens requirements for agencies to build and resource Agency Equity Teams and designate senior leaders accountable for implementing the President’s equity mandate.
The Order fosters greater collaboration and accountability, streamlines agencies’ reporting of progress and planning, and invests in underserved communities. It directs the Office of Management and Budget to support implementation of the annual agency Equity Action Plans through the President’s budget request to Congress. The Order also formalizes the President’s goal of increasing the share of federal contracting dollars awarded to small disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent by 2025, and instructs agencies to expand procurement opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses through grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and other investments and programs that flow through states and local entities.
The Order improves economic opportunity in rural and urban communities by ensuring that federal resources contribute to building wealth and opportunity in these communities through locally-led development. It also addresses emerging civil rights risks by instructing agencies to focus their civil rights authorities and offices on emerging threats, such as algorithmic discrimination in automated technology, improving accessibility for people with disabilities, improving language access services, and considering opportunities to bolster the capacity of their civil rights offices.
In conclusion, President Biden’s new Executive Order is a significant step towards advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal Government. It is a clear demonstration of the President’s commitment to deliver equity and build an America in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. The new Order sets the stage for continued progress towards equity and inclusion, and ensures that the Federal Government is held accountable for its progress towards these important goals.
To learn more see the official statement from the White House
