Advancing Racial Equity for Underserved Communities

Implications of Executive Order 14091

Executive Order 14091, signed February 16, 2023, makes clear the administration’s intent to swiftly advance national racial equity. The implications for federal agencies are significant.

Building on Executive Order (EO) 13985 (“Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government”), EO 14091 further emphasizes equity-oriented leadership throughout the federal government. It mandates the creation of Agency Equity Teams for 23 federal agencies and progress reports against agency Equity Action Plans beginning September 2023. Agencies must increase engagement with underserved communities to create economic opportunities, enhance enforcement, and raise public awareness of civil rights issues, and they must ensure that the AI and machine learning technologies they deploy are free of bias.