Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The law states, in part, that:
No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
The Office of Civil Rights is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with Title VI, investigating Title VI-related complaints, and providing technical assistance to recipients of Department of Energy financial assistance. The Department has promulgated regulations that implement Title VI. The regulations can be found at 10 C.F.R. Part 1040.
Download a flyer about these regulations here.
Filing a Complaint of Discrimination:
If you believe that you have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by a recipient of federal financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the:
Office of Economic Impact and Diversity
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20585
(202) 586-2218
Your complaint should contain the following information: your name, address, and telephone number; the name and address of the agency, institution, or department you believe discriminated against you; how, why, and when you believe you were discriminated against, including as much information as possible about the alleged acts of discrimination, and the names of the individuals whom you allege discriminated against you, if known; and the names of any persons, if known, that the investigating agency could contact for additional information to support or clarify your allegations.
For additional information on Title VI, please visit the Department of Justice webpage.
Questions? Call us at (202) 586-2218