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In November 2021, during the Biden Administration, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiated this investigation into whether the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Lowndes County Health Department's (ADPH) wastewater disposal and management systems in Lowndes County violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, by discriminating against African American residents of the county. The investigation looked into whether ADPH carried out their onsite wastewater and infectious diseases, and outbreaks programs in a way that caused Black residents of Lowndes County to have less access to adequate wastewater systems and to unlawfully bear the legal consequences and health risks from that lack of access. On May 4, 2023, DOJ announced that the parties had reached a resolution agreement, pausing the ongoing investigation. The agreement required ADPH to take steps to improve public health for Lowndes County residents who lacked the means to install or repair functioning septic systems. These steps fall into three major categories: (1) suspending criminal penalties and liens related to possible violations of sanitation laws; (2) planning equitable onsite wastewater (septic) solutions; and (3) expanding public health awareness.
On April 11, 2025, under the second Trump administration, the DOJ announced that it would be terminating the settlement agreement as part of what the administration said was an effort “to eradicate illegal DEI preferences and environmental justice across the government and in the private sector.” This directive followed President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14151, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” forbidding federal agencies from pursuing programs or initiatives related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, including those related to “environmental justice.”
Summary Authors
Claire Pollard (7/29/2025)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:34 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Alabama
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government
Key Dates
Closing Date: April 11, 2025
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division and Department of Health and Human Services
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Alabama Department of Public Health (Lowndes), State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Issues
Affected Race(s):
Environmental Justice and Resources: