Federal aid recipients can no longer be sued for unintentional discrimination

The US Justice Department changed its rules for federal funding recipients. It removed the ability to sue for discrimination based on a policy's unequal outcome, even if there was no intent to discriminate. This means groups seeking to prove discrimination must now show the government or organization *intended* to discriminate. They cannot just point to a disproportionate effect.

For decades, civil rights law has recognized that policies can discriminate through their effects, even without malicious intent. This rule change by the Justice Department narrows that definition for programs receiving federal money. It makes it harder to challenge policies that disproportionately harm certain groups.