Addressing Civil Rights Issues
GAO and USDA's Inspector General have reported many times on USDA's difficulties in addressing long-standing civil rights issues. USDA has paid almost $1 billion to minority farmers as a result of one class action lawsuit; the court found that USDA had discriminated against African-American farmers for years. Other class action lawsuits are pending. Our work has shown the following:
- Protecting civil rights is a major management challenge at USDA and difficulties in resolving discrimination complaints persist, particularly the timely processing of discrimination complaints.
Highlights of GAO-09-62 (PDF)
- USDA published three annual reports on minority farmers’ participation in farm programs, as required by law. However, USDA considers much of its data to be unreliable because they are based on employees’ visual observations about participants’ race and ethnicity that may not be correct.
Highlights of GAO-09-62 (PDF)
- USDA’s strategic planning does not address key steps needed to ensure USDA provides fair and equitable services to all customers and upholds the civil rights of its employees.
Highlights of GAO-09-62 (PDF)
^ Back to topWhat Needs to Be Done
To improve USDA efforts to address civil rights issues and the participation of minority farmers and ranchers in USDA programs, we recommend that USDA
- Prepare and implement an improvement plan for resolving discrimination complaints;
- Develop and implement a plan to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of customer and employee complaint data;
- Obtain an independent legal examination of a sample of prior decisions;
- Obtain approval to collect demographic data for reliable reporting on race and ethnicity;
- Develop a strategic plan for civil rights at USDA; and
- Explore the potential for an ombudsman office
We also suggest that Congress consider making the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights subject to a statutory performance agreement and establishing an oversight board.
Highlights of GAO-09-62 (PDF)
^ Back to topKey Reports
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Recommendations and Options to Address Management Deficiencies in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
- GAO-09-62, October 22, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 61 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Management of Civil Rights Efforts Continues to Be Deficient Despite Years of Attention
- GAO-08-755T, May 14, 2008
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 35 pages) Accessible Text
- Beginning Farmers: Additional Steps Needed to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of USDA Assistance
- GAO-07-1130, September 18, 2007
- Summary (HTML) Highlights Page (PDF) Full Report (PDF, 48 pages) Accessible Text Recommendations (HTML)
- Pigford Settlement: The Role of the Court-Appointed Monitor
- GAO-06-469R, March 17, 2006
- Summary (HTML) Full Report (PDF, 26 pages) Accessible Text
