Commerce Department
By this rule, the Department of Commerce (Department) amends its regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to eliminate provisions concerning disparate-impact liability and affirmative action. These amendments align the Department's regulations with Title VI's original public meaning, avoid constitutional concerns, reduce compliance costs, and serve the public interest. In addition, these revisions implement changes directed in Executive Order 14281.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce 15 CFR Part 8 [Docket No. 260108-0024] RIN 0605-AA70 ( printed page 20326) AGENCY: Office of Civil Rights, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: By this rule, the Department of Commerce (Department) amends its regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to eliminate provisions concerning disparate-impact liability and affirmative action. These amendments align the Department's regulations with Title VI's original public meaning, avoid constitutional concerns, reduce compliance costs, and serve the public interest. In addition, these revisions implement changes directed in Executive Order 14281 . DATES: The rule is effective April 16, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Sweeney, Senior Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, at (202) 482-1395. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Executive Summary The Department is revising and rescinding portions of its regulations promulgated pursuant to Title VI, 42 U.S.C. 2000d-1 , to more closely align its regulations to the language that Congress enacted in Title VI prohibiting intentionally discriminatory conduct, see 42 U.S.C. 2000d . The Department is cross-referencing and incorporating the reasoning of the Department of Justice (DOJ) final rule published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2025. 90 FR 57141 . There are serious statutory and constitutional concerns with the legality of the Department's Title VI regulations, which go beyond intentional discri…
Citation: 91 FR 20326
