HHS' Civil Rights Office Launches Investigation into Alleged Civil Rights Violations in Legal Scholarship Program Operated Nationwide

OCR Investigates a National Organization's Scholarship Selection Process

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) initiated an investigation to probe the alleged use of race-based criteria in the provision of scholarships by a recipient of HHS funding in its programs or activities. OCR opened this compliance review based on information that OCR received concerning an HHS-funded national organization that administers a legal scholarship program that may violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).

OCR enforces Title VI, which prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin in the recipients' programs and activities. The investigation will examine whether the national organization preferences applicants of certain races and national origin groups for the scholarship program.

"Students of every race deserve the equal opportunity to compete for scholarships to pursue their dreams," said Paula M. Stannard, OCR Director. "OCR will enforce Title VI to ensure equality of opportunity and fundamental fairness in scholarship programs operated by HHS-funded organizations."

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."

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 for 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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