Devon Westhill

Papa | Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights @USDA | 45 & 47 🇺🇲

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

Q: Why would my mother who struggled financially to raise her 3 black kids on her own have been ineligible for universal basic income program in Marin, Co., CA?

A: Cause she’s white.

https://t.co/LBe5vAkLZk via @WSJOpinion

[U.S. Department of Justice @TheJusticeDept]

The Department of Justice has issued an opinion to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) that its guidelines about disparate-impact liability under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act are unconstitutional. The Office of Legal Counsel found that EEOC’s guidelines pressured employers to engage in racial discrimination.

"Despite trying to promote equality, EEOC's disparate impact liability interpretation under Title VII actually fosters the very discrimination its guidelines seek to address," said Acting Attorney General @DAGToddBlanche. "This opinion will now allow businesses to hire based on performance, restoring equal opportunities in the American workplace."

🔗: https://t.co/IujrP5TqHq

[Andrew Ferguson @AFergusonFTC]

The @FTC is working hard to protect American workers. That’s why we opened an investigation into Diversity Lab, a for-profit DEI “consultancy” that partnered with over 300 law firms to impose race- and sex-based quotas in their hiring, promotion, and leadership decisions. Because such agreements to rig labor markets through quotas can violate the antitrust laws, the FTC investigated Diversity Labs. Rather than comply with the antitrust laws, Diversity Lab is shutting its doors.

[Alveda C. King, Ph.D. @AlvedaCKing]

Bob Woodson was an American hero, a courageous voice for truth, and a faithful friend. His impact on this nation and on countless lives will not be forgotten. He will be deeply missed. ❤️

[AAGHarmeetDhillon @AAGDhillon]

Today, @CivilRights is pleased to reach a $30 million dollar resolution with PayPal to end its DEI program and waive fees for America’s eligible small businesses!

[U.S. EEOC @USEEOC]

BREAKING: The @USEEOC is suing The New York Times Over DEI-Related Race and Sex Discrimination

The lawsuit alleges unlawful discrimination in a promotion decision based on race and/or sex. According to the suit:

• A qualified white male employee was excluded from final interviews

• All finalists selected were not white males

• The role went to an external candidate with less relevant experience, despite experience being a requirement for the position

“Federal law is clear: making hiring or promotion decisions motivated in whole or in part by race or sex violates federal law. There is no diversity exception to this rule.” – Chair @andrealucasEEOC

Learn more: https://t.co/DefSS5H4Ls

[U.S. Department of Justice @TheJusticeDept]

Today, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the first False Claims Act resolution secured under the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative, which he launched in May 2025.

“Racial discrimination is illegal, and government contractors cannot evade the law by repackaging it as DEI,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Department launched the Civil Rights Fraud Initiative to root out this misconduct, hold offenders accountable, and end this practice for good.”

🔗: https://t.co/NpJAI0V3vH

[AAGHarmeetDhillon @AAGDhillon]

Hey 👋🏽

There is no such thing as “reverse discrimination” — it’s just plain old discrimination — and it’s illegal! 🤨

[Karoline Leavitt @PressSec]

President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order eliminating racially discriminatory “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) practices by Federal contractors and their subcontractors, ensuring merit-based and efficient contracting and employment.

https://t.co/kE84UAMgWQ

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

SFFA didn't end at the schoolhouse door. @DepSecVaden is right. @TheJusticeDept confirmed same constitutional logic ending race-based college admissions applies to @USDA farm programs. Equal protection means equal protection. This is our Golden Age of Civil Rights in practice.

[Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden @DepSecVaden]

The previous Administration willfully engaged in racial discrimination across @USDA farm programs. This week, @TheJusticeDept cemented this as unconstitutional. America's farmers will never again be subjected to such heinous prejudice. More here👇

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

Grateful to @SecRollins for sharing this. @AlvedaCKing and I argue that honoring black history means honoring the constitutional promise of equal treatment for every American. That's exactly what we're delivering at @USDA.

[Secretary Brooke Rollins @SecRollins]

Check out this powerful new op-ed from @USDA's amazing warriors @DevonWesthill and @AlvedaCKing!

Over the past year @USDA has ended discriminatory policies, ushering in a Golden Age of Civil Rights built on merit, equality, and four pillars: combating discrimination, protecting women/children, defending religious freedom, and putting America First.

Inspired by heroes like James Forten, Justice Clarence Thomas, and Frederick Douglass, today we're rolling out the USDA Merit-Based Opportunity Commission. It unifies efforts to eliminate inconsistencies, promote merit-based hiring/programs, and ensure equal treatment under the law.

As we mark America's 250th, let’s celebrate our shared freedom under one flag that unites us all! 🇺🇸

https://t.co/Bm1QGblRhq

[Secretary Brooke Rollins @SecRollins]

Honored today to swear in Devon Westhill as @USDA’s new Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights!

Four years before founding USDA as “the People’s Department” in 1862, President Lincoln insisted that “a house divided against itself cannot stand” and that “the cause of liberty must not be surrendered.” Those words still ring true today in the face of dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of DEI. President Trump has made it clear that the era of these illegal policies is OVER.

As the first Senate-confirmed leader of USDA’s civil rights office in 15 years (❕), Devon will play a critical role in combating discriminatory policies, ending religious and ethnic persecution, protecting women and children, and putting Americans First. 🇺🇸

From his time in the U.S. Navy to practicing law, serving in the nonprofit world, and working across all three branches of government, he has championed equal protection under the law and equal opportunity rooted in character and merit—NOT race or sex. ⚖️

Devon led the USDA civil rights office in the first Trump Administration, and now we’re thrilled to welcome him back to the second. Excited to work with him every day to usher in a Golden Age of Civil Rights! 🚜🌅🗽

[Secretary Brooke Rollins @SecRollins]

Excited to welcome our Senate-confirmed @USDA leaders! 🚜🌾

✅Michael Boren as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment
✅ Devon Westhill as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights

Our team is coming together and we are executing President Trump’s vision for rural prosperity, maintaining healthy and productive national forests, ending woke dei programs, and always putting farmers FIRST.

Together, we will Make Agriculture Great Again!

[Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden @DepSecVaden]

Great to see, for the first time in more than a decade, a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

Welcome to the team, Mike and Devon.

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

Happy to announce, Marco Rubio has one less job to do.

[Senate Ag Committee Republicans @SenateAgGOP]

Congratulations to Devon Westhill who was confirmed by the Senate to be Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights at @USDA.

[Senate Ag Committee Republicans @SenateAgGOP]

The committee voted to advance these @USDA nominees to the full Senate:
✅ Luke Lindberg to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
✅ Devon Westhill to be Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

Thank you, @realDonaldTrump 🇺🇸

Earlier this week, I was honored to testify before @JohnBoozman, Ranking Member @SenAmyKlobuchar, and members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry which is considering my nomination to be Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights.

If confirmed, I will cherish the opportunity to serve again as the head of civil rights at @USDA to help advance President Trump’s civil rights agenda, under the leadership of @SecRollins, and alongside American patriots like my hearing partner Luke J. Lindberg (@TheUSA).

This extraordinary opportunity would not be possible without my little family that has supported me unconditionally over these many, eventful years. There was some squirming and squealing, but they stuck beside me! And in our down time, they even took me to see my hero Frederick Douglass who I referred to in my opening statement. I’m a lucky man.

@SenateAg @SenateAgGOP @SenateAgDems

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

@bennyjohnson This carrot and stick approach is very clever and generous.

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

@JohnDSailer sickening

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

@BrendanCarrFCC I believe they call this flipping the script.

[Devon Westhill @DevonWesthill]

@catturd2 Oh, how the turntables.