HHS’ Civil Rights Office Launches Sixth Investigation to Promote Merit-Based Opportunity

OCR Investigates Alleged Racial Exclusion in a Health Research Scholarship Program

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) initiated its sixth investigation to probe the alleged race-based criteria a recipient of HHS funding uses for participation in its programs. The investigation responds to allegations that an HHS-funded organization administers a health services research scholarship program that may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.

The investigation will examine whether the organization gives unlawful preference to applicants for a scholarship based on their race, color, or national origin by excluding certain races from eligibility for the scholarship program. National policy under Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, directs federal agencies to enforce long-standing civil rights laws and “to combat illegal private sector [diversity, equity and inclusion] DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities.”

“The Office for Civil Rights will faithfully apply civil rights law using a colorblind lens to root out discriminatory criteria and promote individual excellence, grit, and hard work,” said Anthony Archeval, Acting Director of OCR at HHS.

Today’s announcement is the sixth investigation aligned with Executive Order 14173 that OCR has initiated under the second term of the Trump Administration to probe the alleged race or sex-based criteria used by organizations that receive HHS funding. OCR announced the first four investigations on March 7^th and the fifth investigation on March 27^th.

If you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, or religion in programs or activities that HHS directly operates or to which HHS provides federal financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the HHS Office for Civil Rights at: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/index.html

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