Notice2025-06366
Notice of Rescission of Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons
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Published
April 15, 2025
Issuing agencies
Justice Department
Abstract
This notice announces the Department of Justice's ("Department") rescission of its Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons, consistent with an Executive Order entitled Designating English as the Official Language of the United States.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 71 (Tuesday, April 15, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15721-15722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-06366]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[Docket No. CRT146]
Notice of Rescission of Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance
Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin
Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons
AGENCY: Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the Department of Justice's
(``Department'') rescission of its Guidance to Federal Financial
Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National
Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons,
consistent with an Executive Order entitled Designating English as the
Official Language of the United States.
DATES: Applicable March 21, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Coordination and Compliance
Section, Civil Rights Division, at (202) 307-2222, Voice/TTY: 1-888-
848-5306, or via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2f4f1e19cf1e0e6f2c7c1d6ddd89cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ce888d9de08d9c9a8ebbbdaaa1a4e0a9a1b8">[email protected]</span></a>. Christine Stoneman, Chief,
Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Civil Rights Division at
(202) 305-2222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On March 1, 2025, the President signed Executive Order (``E.O.'')
14224, Designating English as the Official Language of the United
States. See 90 FR 11363 (Mar. 1, 2025). Among other things, E.O. 14224
revoked E.O. 13166, Improving Access to Services for Persons With
Limited English Proficiency. See 65 FR 50121 (Aug. 16, 2000); E.O.
14224 (Sec. 3(b)). E.O. 14224 also directed the Attorney General to
``rescind any policy guidance documents issued pursuant to Executive
Order 13166 and provide updated guidance, consistent with law.'' Id.
(Sec. 3(c)).
E.O. 13166 directed ``[e]ach agency providing Federal financial
assistance shall draft title VI guidance specifically tailored to its
recipients that is consistent with the LEP Guidance issued by the
Department of Justice,'' which were then to be published in the Federal
Register for public comment. E.O. 13166 (Sec. 3). Title VI of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d (Title VI), prohibits
discrimination against or otherwise excluding individuals from programs
or activities on the basis of race, color, or national origin, if those
programs or activities
[[Page 15722]]
receive federal financial assistance. In addition to drafting the model
guidance, the Department issued its own agency-specific Title VI
guidance, which was finalized in 2002 after a notice and comment
period. Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding
Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting
Limited English Proficient Persons, 67 FR 41455 (June 18, 2002) (``2002
DOJ LEP Guidance'').
II. Rescission of DOJ LEP Guidance
Consistent with E.O. 14224, the Department rescinded its 2002 DOJ
LEP Guidance on March 21, 2025.
III. Continuing Obligation
All recipients of Department financial assistance have a continuing
obligation to comply with Title VI, all applicable Title VI
implementing regulations, all applicable federal civil rights laws and
nondiscrimination provisions. Recipients of federal financial
assistance also have a continuing obligation under the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 to ensure that their communications with individuals with
disabilities are as effective as communications with others and may
need to provide qualified sign language interpreters for individuals
who are deaf. Recipients of federal financial assistance, including
subrecipients, are reminded that the denial of language assistance
services can be evidence of discrimination on the basis of national
origin or disability under certain circumstances. The Department will
be issuing updated guidance, consistent with law, as required by E.O.
14224.
Dated: April 9, 2025.
Harmeet K. Dhillon,
Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division.
[FR Doc. 2025-06366 Filed 4-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-13-P
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