The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) embraces Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The core of equal employment opportunity is the right to work, and advance based on merit, ability, and potential, free from prejudice or discrimination. EEO covers all human capital and employment programs, management practices, and decisions including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, merit promotions, transfers, reassignments, training, career development, benefits, and separations.
Consistent with federal law, USDA prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, or protected EEO activity. Further, acts of retaliation against an employee who engages in protected activity or the exercise of any appeal or grievance right provided by law will not be tolerated in our workplace. The USDA supports the decision of its employees to exercise all available rights under all Civil Rights statutes.
The Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2020 requires that Notifications of Violation regarding findings of discrimination be posted publicly for a minimum of one year. USDA EEO findings of discrimination are listed in the table below:
Name of Agency |
Organization Issuing Finding of Discrimination or Retaliation |
Date of Finding |
Disciplinary Action Yes/No/Pending |
Law Violated |
Date of Posting on USDA Website |
Notice |
FNS | EEOC | 05/22/2023 | Under review |
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 |
8/16/2023 | FNS Notice 1 (PDF, 233 KB) |
FNS | EEOC | 03/29/2024 | Pending | Title VII of the Civil Rights Act | 9/06/2024 | FNS Notice 2 (PDF, 109 KB) |
FSIS | USDA | 2/22/2023 | No | Rehab Act | 8/16/23 | FSIS Notice 5 (PDF, 218 KB) |
FPAC-BC |
EEOC |
6/24/2022 |
No |
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) |
4/04/2023 |
Not Available |
OCFO | EEOC | 09/26/2023 | Yes |
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) |
3/7/2024 | OCFO Notice 2 (PDF, 73.0 KB) |
RD |
Office of Federal Operations (OFO) |
10/17/2023 |
Yes |
The Rehabilitation Act |
12/13/2023 |
RD Notice (PDF, 166 KB) |