ExecutiveOrdersEO
MemoMemorandumBiden · D

Presidential Memorandum

Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States

This memorandum condemns racism and xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the COVID-19 pandemic, directing federal agencies to avoid discriminatory language in official communications. It tasks HHS with issuing cultural competency guidance, requires agencies to ensure their actions and statements don't contribute to anti-AAPI bias, and directs the Attorney General to support state/local efforts and expand hate incident data collection.

Federal Register Open PDF 86 FR 7485

Impact dates

  1. HHS to consider issuing guidance on cultural competency and language access

  2. Attorney General to explore opportunities to support anti-discrimination and hate crime prevention efforts

  3. HHS to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Key directives

  • HHS Secretary shall consider issuing guidance on cultural competency, language access, and sensitivity toward AAPI persons in federal COVID-19 response
  • Agencies shall take all appropriate steps to ensure official actions, documents, and statements do not exhibit or contribute to racism/xenophobia against AAPI persons
  • Attorney General shall explore opportunities to support state/local agencies and AAPI communities in preventing discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hate crimes
  • Attorney General shall explore expanding collection of data and public reporting on hate incidents against AAPI individuals
  • HHS Secretary authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Condemnation of anti-AAPI racism by the Administration
  • Agencies directed to review and ensure official actions/statements do not exhibit racism/xenophobia

Near term (90d)

  • HHS to consider issuing guidance on cultural competency and language access for COVID-19 response
  • Attorney General to explore opportunities to support anti-discrimination and hate crime prevention efforts
  • HHS to publish memorandum in Federal Register

Long term

  • Potential expansion of hate incident data collection and public reporting
  • Cultural competency integration into federal health response frameworks

Risks & tensions

  • Language is advisory ('consider issuing,' 'explore opportunities,' 'shall take all appropriate steps') rather than mandating concrete outcomes, creating implementation uncertainty
  • No dedicated funding or enforcement mechanism specified beyond 'subject to availability of appropriations'
  • Potential tension between speech restrictions and First Amendment concerns regarding 'official statements' limitation
Presidential Memorandum: Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States · Executive Orders