Overview

On August 11, 2000, the President signed Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency" (PDF). The Executive Order requires Federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system to provide those services so LEP persons can have meaningful access to them.  It is expected that agency plans will provide for such meaningful access consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the fundamental mission of the agency.  The Executive Order also requires that the Federal agencies work to ensure that recipients of Federal financial assistance provide meaningful access to their LEP applicants and beneficiaries.

To assist Federal agencies in carrying out these responsibilities, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a Policy Guidance Document, "Enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - National Origin Discrimination Against Persons With Limited English Proficiency" (2002 LEP Guidance). This LEP Guidance sets forth the compliance standards that recipients of Federal financial assistance must follow to ensure that their programs and activities normally provided in English are accessible to LEP persons and thus do not discriminate on the basis of national origin in violation of Title VI's prohibition against national origin discrimination.

General Information

Commonly Asked Questions and Answers Regarding Executive Order 13166

Overview of Executive Order 13166, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice

Department of Justice Issues EO 13166 Accomplishments Report "Advancing Meaningful Access for Limited English Proficient Persons" - December 18, 2015

Language Access Assessment and Planning Tool for Federally Conducted and Federally Assisted Programs - May 9, 2011, Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice

Common Language Access Questions, Technical Assistance, and Guidance for Federally Conducted and Federally Assisted Programs (PDF), August 15, 2011

Background and Questions and Answers Regarding the October 26, 2001 DOJ Clarifying Memorandum Regarding Limited English Proficiency and Executive Order 13166, October 31, 2001

District Court Upholds Suspension of Bankruptcy Trustee for Failing to Comply with Agency's Language Access Plan, Memorandum and Order, Pereira v. U.S. Department of Justice, 16 CIV 2599 (S.D.N.Y.,May 11, 2016)

Information for Recipients

Assistant Attorney General Boyd letter to recipients of DOJ assistance offering assistance in implementing LEP guidance, December 13, 2002

Department of Justice Final Guidance to Federal Financial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons, June 18, 2002

Civil Rights Division Communication to State Courts Regarding Language Access

Information for Federal Agencies

Memorandum to Federal Agencies from Attorney General Eric Holder Reaffirming the Mandates of Executive Order 13166, February 17, 2011

Memorándum para las Agencias federales de parte del Fiscal general, Eric Holder, que reafirma los mandatos del Decreto ejecutivo 13166. 17 de febrero de 2011. (Spanish)

В Меморандуме, разосланном федеральным ведомствам от имени Министра юстиции Эрика Холдера, дается повторное подтверждение поручений, содержащихся в Приказе Президента № 13166 – 17 февраля 2011 г (Russian)

司法部長 Eric Holder 致聯邦機構的備忘錄，重申第 13166 號行政命令 – 2011 年 2 月 17 日 (Simplified Chinese)

에릭 홀더 미 법무장관이 대통령 행정 명령 13166의 지시를 재천명하며 연방기관에 보내는 메모 – 2011년 2월 17일 (Korean)

Thông tư gửi các Cơ quan Liên bang của Tổng Chưởng lý Eric Holder Tái phê chuẩn Sắc lệnh Hành pháp 13166 (Mandates of Executive Order 13166) – 17 tháng 2 năm 2011 (Vietnamese)

Language Access Obligations under Executive Order 13166 Memorandum to Heads and Department Components from Attorney General Eric Holder, June 28, 2010

Assistant Attorney General Boyd Memorandum to Heads of Federal Agencies, General Counsels, and Civil Rights Directors concerning Tools to Ensure Implementation and Understanding of Executive Order 13166, November 12, 2002

Assistant Attorney General Boyd Memorandum to Heads of Federal Agencies, General Counsels, and Civil Rights Directors regarding Executive Order 13166, July 8, 2002

Assistant Attorney General Boyd Memorandum to Heads of Federal Grants Agencies, General Counsels and Civil Rights Directors on Executive Order 13166, January 11, 2002