Your Rights 

Under Title VI of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1964

“No person in the United States shall, 

on the ground of race, color, or national 

origin, be excluded from participation’ 

in, be denied the benefits of, or be 

subjected to discrimination under any 

program or activity receiving Federal 

financial assistance.” 
“Simple justice requires that public 

funds, to which all taxpayers of all 

races contribute, not be spent in any 

fashion which encourages, entrenches, 

subsidizes, or results in racial 

discrimination.”

(President John F. Kennedy, 

 in his message calling for the enactment of Title VI, 1963).

What is Title VI? 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the Federal law 

that protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of 

their race, color, or national origin in programs that receive 

Federal financial assistance. 

What programs are covered by 

Title VI? 

Approximately 30 Federal agencies provide Federal financial 

assistance in the form of funds, training, and technical and 

other assistance to State and local governments, and nonprofit and private organizations. These recipients of Federal 

assistance, in turn, operate programs and deliver benefits 

and services to individuals (known as “beneficiaries”) to 

achieve the goals of the Federal legislation that authorizes 

the programs.

Federally assisted programs address such broad and diverse 

areas as: 

• elementary, secondary, and higher education 

• health care, social services, and public welfare 

• public transportation 

• parks and recreation 

• natural resources and the environment 

• employment and job training 

• housing and community development 

• law enforcement and the administration of justice 

• agriculture and nutrition. 

What discrimination is prohibited 

by Title VI? 

There are many forms of illegal discrimination based on 
race, color, or national origin that can limit the opportunity 

of minorities to gain equal access to services and programs. 

Among other things, in operating a federally assisted 

program, a recipient cannot, on the basis of race, color, or 

national origin, either directly or through contractual means: 

• Deny program services, aids, or benefits; 

• Provide a different service, aid, or benefit, or provide 

them in a manner different than they are provided to 

others; or 

• Segregate or separately treat individuals in any matter 

related to the receipt of any service, aid, or benefit. 

How can I file a discrimination 

complaint? 

Each Federal agency that provides Federal financial 

assistance is responsible for investigating complaints of 

discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin 

in the use of its funds. If you believe that you or others 

protected by Title VI have been discriminated against, you 

may file a complaint with the Federal agency that provides 

funds for the program where you believe the discrimination 

is occurring. 

A signed, written complaint should be filed With the 

appropriate Federal agency, generally within 180 days of the 

date of the alleged discrimination. It should describe: 

• Your name, address, and telephone number. Your 

complaint must be signed. If you are filing on behalf 

of another person, include your name, address, 

telephone number, and your relation to that person (e.g., 

friend, attorney, parent, etc.) The name and address 

of the agency, institution, or department you believe 

discriminated against you. 

• How, why, and when you believe you were 

discriminated against. Include as much background 

information as possible about the alleged acts of 

discrimination. Include names of individuals whom you 

allege discriminated against you, if you know them. 

• The names of any persons, if known, that the 

investigating agency could contact for additional 

information to support or clarify your allegations. 

What will the Federal agency 

do with my complaint? 

Once a complaint is filed, it will be reviewed by the agency 

to determine whether it has jurisdiction to investigate the 
issues you have raised. Each agency’s procedures are different, 

but an agency generally will investigate your allegations and 

attempt to resolve violations it has found. If negotiations to 

correct a violation are unsuccessful, enforcement proceedings 

may be instituted. 

What is the Department of 

Justice’s role? 

The Department of Justice, under Executive Order 12250, 

coordinates the enforcement of Title VI and related statutes by 

all agencies that administer federally assisted programs.

If you cannot determine what Federal agency may have Title 

VI jurisdiction, or if you do not know where to send your 

complaint, you may send it to the Department of Justice. As the 

government-wide Title VI “clearinghouse,” the Department of 

Justice will refer your complaint to the appropriate agency. The 

address is: 

U.S. Department of Justice,Civil Rights Division 

Coordination and Review Section-NWB 950 Pennsylvania 

Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20530 Title VI

(1-888-848-5306) (202) 307-2678 (TDD) 

What if the recipient retaliates 

against me for asserting my rights 

or filing a complaint? 

You should be aware that a recipient is prohibited from 

retaliating against you or any person because he or she 

opposed an unlawful policy or practice, or made charges, 

testified, or participated in any Complaint action under Title 

VI. If you believe that you have been retaliated against, you 

should immediately contact the Federal agency with authority 

to investigate your complaint.

NUREG/BR-0457

September 2009