JUST Act of 2023

HR 6527, the JUST Act of 2023, strengthens civil rights accountability within the USDA by requiring corrective actions for employees found to have engaged in discriminatory practices, retaliation, or misconduct (such as denying service receipts or delaying applications). It establishes a new Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights position to oversee compliance, creates an independent Civil Rights Ombudsperson office to assist program participants, and grants the Assistant Secretary authority to provide equitable relief - such as restoring denied benefits - to individuals who faced discrimination. The bill directly affects USDA employees, program applicants, and participants (including farmers and ranchers) by streamlining complaint resolution and shifting the burden of proof to the USDA in appeals. These changes aim to improve transparency and fairness in USDA program access.