Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice

Ensuring consistent and effective enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 across the federal government

I write to share the publication today of the first portion of our updated and expanded Title VI Legal Manual. Updated sections cover key Title VI concepts, including legislative history, the Department of Justice role, and scope of coverage. The Manual is designed to assist federal funding agencies in meeting their critical obligation to remedy discrimination in federally funded programs through strong administrative enforcement. It also serves as a resource for Title VI practitioners and others interested in learning more about how the law protects against race, color, and national origin discrimination.

We will release additional portions of the Manual as they become available. Upcoming updates will address conduct prohibited by Title VI, including intentional discrimination, disparate impact, and retaliation.

Executive Order 12250 charges DOJ with ensuring the consistent and effective enforcement of Title VI and related statutes. In order to fulfill this mandate, DOJ, through the Civil Rights Division’s Federal Coordination and Compliance Section (FCS), provides assistance, training, and guidance to agency civil rights offices. The Legal Manual is a critical component of the Civil Rights Division’s initiative to restructure, reevaluate, and strengthen our Title VI coordination program.

In addition to the Legal Manual, Title VI News @FCS provides information on current implementation and enforcement efforts across the federal agencies; FCS issues Title VI guidance, including the recent joint guidance on emergencies; and files briefs to facilitate accurate and effective application of Title VI standards. Visit FCS’s website for more information about these efforts.

Please direct any comments about the Manual to FCS (use this email address: fcs.crt@usdoj.gov). It is our intention to revise the document periodically to both update evolving legal principles and respond to agency needs for guidance in new areas. As such, we welcome any feedback you may have.

Finally, a huge thank you to FCS Deputy Chief Peter Gray and Staff Attorney Laurie Gelman, editors of the Title VI Legal Manual, and to so many others in FCS and other offices who are contributing to the development of this important resource.

And thank you for your continued interest in and pursuit of Title VI enforcement.

Christine Stoneman

Acting Chief
Federal Coordination and Compliance Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
www.usdoj.gov/crt/fcs and www.lep.gov