USDA can only succeed in its mission to help America thrive—and can only live up to President Lincoln's description of it as the "People's Department"—if it ensures that the Americans who need its services most receive them. Equity is not an add-on or extra; it is central to the Department’s mission (PDF, 9.6 MB):
"To serve all Americans by providing effective, innovative, science-based public policy leadership in agriculture, food and nutrition, natural resource protection and management, rural development, and related issues with a commitment to deliverable equitable and climate-smart opportunities that inspire and help America thrive."
Breaking Equity News and Events
New Jobs and Improved Infrastructure through Rural Partners Network
- USDA to Bring New Jobs and Improved Infrastructure to Rural Partners Network Communities (May 22, 2023)
- White House Investing in America
- List of Rural Partners Network Projects
- For more information on Rural Partners Network, visit: Rural.gov
Clean Energy In Rural America
- Biden-Harris Administration Makes Historic, $11 Billion Investment to Advance Clean Energy Across Rural America (May 16, 2023)
More Progress for Distressed Farmers Facing Financial Risk
- USDA Is Providing $130 Million in Assistance to Help Farmers Facing Financial Risk (May 1, 2023)
- USDA Announces Additional Assistance for Distressed Farmers Facing Financial Risk (March 27, 2023)
- Program Factsheet
- Webpage: Inflation Reduction Act Investments in Farm Loan and Conservation Programs
Financial Assistance to Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination
- Farmers.gov/22007 webpage will provide frequent updates (April 2023)
- Next Steps in Providing Financial Assistance to Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination: Organizational Deadline (March 14, 2023)
- USDA Announces Next Steps in Providing Financial Assistance to Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination (March 1, 2023) (Note: updated above)
More USDA Equity NewsUSDA Equity Accomplishments and Resources
Making Equity a Priority
EQUITY IS: the consistent and systematic treatment of all individuals in a fair, just, and impartial manner, including individuals who belong to communities that often have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander persons and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; women and girls; LGBTQI+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; persons who live in United States Territories; persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality; and individuals who belong to multiple such communities.
IT MEANS RECOGNIZING: people’s frustrations run deep and are rooted in their own daily battles—to make ends meet, to maintain their land, to put food on their tables, and to give their children a shot at economic opportunity. Gaps in access to USDA programs challenge the very core of who we are as a Department. That’s why USDA is making equity a priority.
FROM CONCEPT TO ACTION: USDA has mobilized, department-wide, to remove barriers to access to our programs and services for all Americans, including ensuring USDA resources reach underserved communities and those with the most need. This page shows how.
Strategy for Impact
In response to Executive Order 13985 Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government, the Department’s Equity Action Plan details a subset of actions that USDA has prioritized because of their potential for high impact on the underserved farmers and ranchers, families and children, and rural communities.
- Reduce barriers to USDA programs.
- Partner with trusted technical assistance providers.
- Direct USDA programs to those who need them the most.
- Expand equitable access to USDA nutrition assistance programs.
- Advance equity in federal procurement.
- Uphold federal trust and treaty responsibilities to Indian Tribes.
- Commit unwaveringly to civil rights.
- Operate with transparency and accountability.
Equity Accomplishments
For more on USDA’s equity strategy and the past two years’ progress, visit the Equity Accomplishments page.
Equity Stories
Equity means that more people get what they need to flourish.
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Chase City Community Gardens Flourish (May 2023)
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USDA Outreach to Guam, Pacific Islanders (May 2023)
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Connecting Kids To Meals: A Valued Resource For Kids In Northwest Ohio (May 2023)
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On World Bee Day, Celebrate NIFA-Funded Native American Pollinator Projects (May 2023)
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Growing Hawaii’s New Farmers (May 2023)
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The Conservation Efforts of the Karen Community Farm (May 2023)
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Farm to School and Child Nutrition Programming Model in Rialto, California (May 2023)
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Hub helps host urban Earth Day workshop (May 2023)
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Black Loam Capstone Conference Being Held May 19 and 20 (May 2023)
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1890 Scholarship Rekindles Mother of Four’s Dream of Finishing College (May 2023)
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NRCS celebrates Earth Day at the world's largest green gathering (May 2023)
- Putting the CO in Co-located Services (April 2023)
- USDA NRCS Awards Zenger Farm Equity Agreement (April 2023)
- 2023 "Growing Together" Black Farmer Conference (April 2023)
- 105-Year-Old Fondy Farmers Market Increases Access to Healthy, Local Food and Economic Opportunity in Greater Milwaukee Area (April 2023)
- Increasing Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Youth Engagement, Farmer Support, and Climate Adaptation on the Tohono O’odham Nation (April 2023)
- USDA Takes Steps to Prevent Illegal Child Labor (April 2023)
- Secretary Tom Vilsack Visits Greeley Evans School District (April 2023)
- Humboldt Community REAPs the Benefit of Webb Farm Solar (Jan. 2023)
- A Career Dedicated to Building More Inclusive Food Systems (Dec. 2022)
- It Takes A Village (Dec. 2022)
- Thankful For the Gifts of the Earth (Dec. 2022)
- ARS Project Supports Indigenous Seed Sovereignty (Nov. 2022)
- NRCS Helps Career Educator Branch Out Into Tree Farming (Nov. 2022)
- Omaha Tribe of Nebraska WIC Garden Partners with Community for Nutrition Education (Nov. 2022)
- More than just a co-op: How Cooperatives Strengthen Economic Power (Oct. 2022)
- USDA Rural Development’s ReConnect Program Helps Rural Families Close Digital Divide (Oct. 2022)
- Connecting Rural New York Communities through USDA’s ReConnect Program (Aug. 2022)
Equity Commission: Shaping Change at USDA
USDA's Equity Commission is an independent body with 41 Commission and Subcommittee members charged with evaluating USDA programs and services and developing recommendations on how we can reduce barriers. Using this information, USDA will make needed changes so that the Department's programs, services, and decisions reflect the values of equity and inclusion. This will ensure everyone has a fair shot at resources, begin closing the racial wealth gap, and address longstanding inequities in agriculture.
The work of the Equity Commission is empowering USDA to objectively confront the hard reality of past and help build back better by serving our customers fairly and equitably.
Learn more about the Equity Commission
Building a More Diverse USDA
Leading with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access Front and Center: USDA’s commitment to diversity and equity includes both committed leadership and strong policy. USDA has issued a robust diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) strategic plan and has hired a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) and other staff to implement it. The CDIO leads USDAʼs work to build an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities USDA serves, bringing the best talent to USDA, retaining and investing in our workforce, and creating a culture where everyone feels welcomed.
At the core of USDAʼs Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Strategic Plan are six focus areas for the next five years:
- Build a culture that drives trust, belonging, transparency, accountability, and employee empathy.
- Achieve a workforce representative of Americans that inspires development of innovative ideas and best practices.
- Foster a workplace environment that is physically, mentally, and emotionally safe.
- Establish leadership and governance structures to support long-term and sustainable DEIA efforts.
- Promote empowerment, responsibility, and accountability for DEIA through developing the workforce.
- Demonstrate a commitment to a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible USDA through accountability, data collection, analysis, and effective policymaking.
USDA DEIA Strategic Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB)
Explore Meaningful Work at USDA
- USDA Careers page
- Internships and Career Opportunities
- Jobs to Build a Better America
- Community Liaison Jobs at the USDA Rural Partners Network
Other Equity Resources
- USDA Equity Accomplishments and Resources
- USDA Equity News Releases
- USDA Equity Blog
- USDA Equity Commission
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Interim Report (PDF, 1.2 MB) (March 2023)
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Upcoming Equity Commission Public Meeting – Registration (June 27, 28, 29, 2023)
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- USDA 2022 Equity Action Plan | Equity Action Plan Summary
- USDA Executive Order 13085 Request for Information (RFI) Summary (2021)
- USDA Strategic Plan for Financial Year 2022-2026 (PDF, 9.6 MB)
- USDA Environmental Justice Scorecard (April 2023)
- Learn even more
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Assistance for Agricultural Producers: Get Started! A Guide to USDA Resources for Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers (PDF, 2 MB) (July 2022) (Also available in Spanish, Hmong, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese)
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Key Statutes: American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Inflation Reduction Act
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American Rescue Plan Act Section 1006
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American Rescue Plan of 2021 (Feb. 22, 2021)
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White House: Advancing Equity through The American Rescue Plan Report (May 2022)
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Press release - Aug. 24, 2022 - USDA Announces $550 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Projects Benefiting Underserved Agricultural Producers and Minority Serving Institutions that Create Career Development Opportunities for Next Generation Leaders
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Fact sheet – Equity at the Center of All USDA Activities (PDF, 1.4 MB)
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Fact sheet – FSA: Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program (PDF, 381 KB)
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Fact sheet – NIFA 1006 Components (PDF, 105 KB)
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Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Section 22006: Progress for Distressed Farmers Facing Financial Risk
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Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Section 22007: Financial Assistance to Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination
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Farmers.gov/22007 (frequently updated)
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Next Steps in Providing Financial Assistance to Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination: Organizational Deadline (March 14, 2023)
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USDA Announces Next Steps in Providing Financial Assistance to Borrowers Who Have Faced Discrimination (March 1, 2023) (Note: updated above)
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Press release: USDA Seeking Public Comment on a New Provision to Provide Assistance to Agricultural Producers Who Have Experienced Discrimination
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Equity-related Executive Orders and Whole-of-Government Memos
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List of USDA covered programs (PDF, 211 KB)
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EO 14096: “Revitalizing our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All” (April 21, 2023)
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EO 14091: “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” (February 16, 2023)
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EO 14075: “Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals” (June 15, 2022)
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EO 14058: “Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government” (December 13, 2021)
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Memo to Agencies: Advancing Equity in Procurement (Dec. 2, 2021)
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Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce (Nov. 23, 2021)
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EO 14035: “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce” (June 25, 2021)
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EO 14020: “Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council” (March 8, 2021)
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EO 14008: “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad” (January 27, 2021)
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EO 13988: “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation” (January 20, 2021)
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EO 13985: “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government” (January 20, 2021)
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Memo to Agencies on Modernizing Regulatory Review (Jan. 20, 2021)
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EO 13166: “Improving Access to Services for Persons With Limited English Proficiency” (August 16, 2000)
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EO 13175: “Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments" (November 6, 2000)
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EO 13166: “Improving Access to Services for Persons With Limited English Proficiency” (August 11, 2000)
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