JUST Act of 2025

The JUST Act of 2025 (Just USDA Standards and Transparency Act) would overhaul civil rights accountability and enforcement within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). It would create a dedicated leadership and legal framework for civil rights, centralize enforcement and advisory functions, and broaden remedies available to program participants who experience civil rights violations. Key changes include establishing an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights with an Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights, creating an independent Civil Rights Ombudsperson, expanding the availability of equitable relief to complainants, shifting the burden of proof in certain appeals to the agency, and mandating corrective actions against USDA personnel found to have discriminated, retaliated, harassed, or otherwise violated civil rights. Overall, the bill aims to increase accountability for civil rights violations within USDA, improve access to remedies for affected individuals, and strengthen the department’s internal processes and transparency around civil rights enforcement. It would require new offices, staffing, and funding, and would amend multiple statutes to implement these changes.