Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 18 / Friday, January 29, 2021 / Presidential Documents 7485 

Memorandum of January 26, 2021 

Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the 

United States 

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies 

Advancing inclusion and belonging for people of all races, national origins, 

and ethnicities is critical to guaranteeing the safety and security of the 

American people. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic, inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric has put Asian American and 

Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons, families, communities, and businesses at 

risk. 

The Federal Government must recognize that it has played a role in furthering 

these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID–19 pandemic by the geographic location of 

its origin. Such statements have stoked unfounded fears and perpetuated 

stigma about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed 

to increasing rates of bullying, harassment, and hate crimes against AAPI 

persons. These actions defied the best practices and guidelines of public 

health officials and have caused significant harm to AAPI families and 

communities that must be addressed. 

Despite these increasing acts of intolerance, Asian Americans and Pacific 

Islanders have made our Nation more secure during the COVID–19 pandemic 

and throughout our history. An estimated 2 million Asian Americans and 

Pacific Islanders have served on the front lines of this crisis as healthcare 

providers, as first responders, and in other essential roles. The Federal 

Government should combat racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against 

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and should work to ensure that 

all members of AAPI communities—no matter their background, the language 

they speak, or their religious beliefs—are treated with dignity and equity. 

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the 

laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: 

Section 1. Condemning Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian 

Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Federal Government has a responsibility to prevent racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against everyone in 

America, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. My Administration condemns and denounces acts of racism, xenophobia, and intolerance 

against AAPI communities. 

Sec. 2. Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (a) The Secretary of Health and Human Services 

shall, in coordination with the COVID–19 Health Equity Task Force, consider 

issuing guidance describing best practices for advancing cultural competency, 

language access, and sensitivity towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the context of the Federal Government’s COVID–19 response. In 

developing any such guidance, the Secretary should consider the best practices set forth by public health organizations and experts for mitigating 

racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID–19 pandemic. 

(b) Executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall take all appropriate 

steps to ensure that official actions, documents, and statements, including 

those that pertain to the COVID–19 pandemic, do not exhibit or contribute 


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to racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific 

Islanders. Agencies may consult with public health experts, AAPI community 

leaders, or AAPI community-serving organizations, or may refer to any best 

practices issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, to ensure an 

understanding of the needs and challenges faced by AAPI communities. 

(c) The Attorney General shall explore opportunities to support, consistent 

with applicable law, the efforts of State and local agencies, as well as 

AAPI communities and community-based organizations, to prevent discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hate crimes against AAPI individuals, 

and to expand collection of data and public reporting regarding hate incidents 

against such individuals. 

Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: 

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, 

or the head thereof; or 

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 

relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. 

(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable 

law and subject to the availability of appropriations. 

(c) Independent agencies are strongly encouraged to comply with the 

provisions of this memorandum. 

(d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right 

or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by 

any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, 

its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. 

(e) The Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized and directed 

to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. 

THE WHITE HOUSE, 

Washington, January 26, 2021 

[FR Doc. 2021–02073 

Filed 1–28–21; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 4150–42–P 


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