Sat Nov 23 07:58:17 UTC 2024: ## USDA Launches New Online Portal for Civil Rights Complaints

**WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2024** – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the launch of a new online portal designed to streamline the process of filing civil rights discrimination complaints. The USDA Civil Rights Management System (CRMS) Program Discrimination Complaint portal allows customers to easily submit and track complaints alleging discrimination related to USDA services, programs, or USDA-funded programs.

The new system, a key initiative under Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s mandate to improve transparency and accountability within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR), aims to improve efficiency and transparency in handling complaints. The portal is available in both English and Spanish and complements existing methods of complaint submission, including email, mail, and fax.

“The online portal is part of our efforts to better serve USDA customers and ensure Department-wide efficient, fair, consistent, and equitable application of civil rights,” said Dr. Penny Brown Reynolds, USDA Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

The portal allows users to create accounts and securely manage their complaints. Since 2019, OASCR has significantly reduced its average complaint processing time by 43%, now averaging 225 days or less. The agency also offers a mobile application providing access to civil rights information and resources.

Complaints can be filed online at http://www.usda.gov/oascr/program-complaints. For assistance, contact 866-632-9992 or program.intake@usda.gov. TTY users can call 711 or 800-845-6136 for Spanish translation services. The USDA prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income, and political beliefs (not all bases apply to all programs).

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