H.R. 3685: Just USDA Standards and Transparency Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Just USDA Standards and Transparency Act of 2025, aims to enhance accountability and enforcement of civil rights within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill outlines several key provisions to improve the way civil rights complaints are handled within the department. Below is a summary of the main components of the bill:

1. Civil Rights Accountability for USDA Employees

The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with ensuring corrective action is taken against USDA employees found to have engaged in discriminatory or retaliatory behavior, civil rights violations, or misconduct. This includes actions discovered through various means, such as:

• Administrative findings by the USDA
• Federal administrative or judicial processes
• Settlements related to civil rights
• Audits or investigations by the Department's Office of Inspector General
• Investigations by the Office of Special Counsel

Specific covered misconduct includes:

• Failure to provide appropriate service receipts to program applicants
• Providing inaccurate service receipts
• Delayed processing of applications
• Failure to provide accurate information about USDA programs

Corrective actions may involve disciplinary measures such as removal, suspension, reduction in pay, or reprimands.

2. Improvements to the Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

The bill establishes the position of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights, responsible for overseeing compliance with civil rights laws and coordinating related activities within the department. Other duties include:

• Ensuring proper integration of civil rights components into strategic planning
• Establishing an Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights to manage legal advice and investigations related to civil rights complaints

This office will work independently and is designed to ensure accountability in breaches of civil rights regulations.

3. Equitable Relief for Applicants

The bill allows for equitable relief for individuals filing civil rights complaints, enabling the Assistant Secretary to grant relief without prior approval from other officials within the USDA. This is applicable in contexts such as loan applications and other USDA programs.

4. Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson

Furthermore, the bill mandates the creation of an Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson within the USDA. The Ombudsperson will help clients navigate the civil rights review process, promote awareness of civil rights complaints, and advocate for equitable access to USDA programs. They will also prepare annual reports on their activities and recommendations.

5. Burden of Proof for Appeals

Finally, the bill shifts the burden of proof in hearings for claims against the USDA to the agency itself, requiring it to prove that adverse decisions were valid based on substantial evidence.

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