​据美国政府问责局（GAO）称，美国农业部（USDA）在处理对少数民族和女农民歧视的指控方面取得了重大进展，无论是在其管理的农业贷款项目中，还是在十多年来一直困扰它的劳动力中。

出身背景

自1997年以来，美国农业部一直是非裔美国人、土著美国人、西班牙裔和女农民提起的重大民权诉讼的目标。这些诉讼通常指责美国农业部使用歧视性做法非法拒绝贷款、延迟贷款申请处理、资金不足贷款金额，并在贷款申请过程中制造不必要和沉重的障碍。这些歧视性做法给少数民族农民造成了不必要的经济困难。格利克曼和布莱温顿五案。格里克曼代表非裔美国农民提出诉讼，促成了历史上最大的民权定居点。迄今为止，由于Pigford v.的定居点，已向16000多名农民支付了10多亿美元。格利克曼和布莱温顿诉。格里克曼诉讼。今天，西班牙裔和女性农民和牧场主如果认为自己在1981年至2000年期间在发放或偿还农业贷款时受到美国农业部的歧视，可以通过访问美国农业部的Farmersclaims.gov网站，就合资格的农业贷款申请现金奖励或债务减免。

高发现进步

2008年10月，政府问责局就美国农业部如何改善其在解决农民歧视指控和向少数民族农民提供帮助他们成功的项目方面的表现提出了六项建议。

在其题为“美国农业部在实施美国政府问责局民权建议方面的进展”的报告中，美国政府问责局告诉国会，美国农业部从2008年起全面解决了六项建议中的三项，在解决两项建议方面取得了重大进展，在解决一项建议方面也取得了一些进展。（见GAO报告第3页表1）

少数民族农民和牧场主外联方案

早在2002年，美国农业部就承诺通过发放9820万美元的赠款来改善对少数民族农民的支持，以补充其专门针对少数民族、小农和牧场主的贷款计划。然后是Sec。农业部的安·维尼曼说：“我们致力于利用一切可用资源帮助需要援助的农场和牧场家庭，特别是少数民族和小生产者。

除了金钱奖励、对少数民族农民的补助以及在美国农业部内部促进民权意识和平等的广泛努力之外，民权诉讼和解所产生的最重要变化可能是美国农业部旨在为少数民族和女性农民及牧场主服务的一系列外联计划。其中一些计划包括：

Office of the Pigford Case Monitor: The Office of the Monitor provides access to all court documents, including court orders and decisions related to the Pigford v. Glickman and Brewington v. Glickman lawsuits filed against the USDA on the behalf of African-American farmers and ranchers. The collection of documents provided on the Office of the Monitor website are intended to help persons with claims against the USDA arising from the lawsuits learn about the payments and other relief they are entitled to under the courts' rulings. Minority and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Assistance (MSDA): Operating under the USDA's Farm Service Agency, the Minority and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Assistance was established specifically to assist minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who apply for USDA farm loans. The MSDA also offers the USDA Minority Farm Register to all minority persons involved in farming or ranching. Participants in the Minority Farm Register are mailed regular updates on the USDA's efforts to assist minority farmers. Women and Community Outreach Programs: Created in 2002, the Community Outreach and Assistance to Women, Limited Resource and Other Traditionally Under Served Farmers and Ranchers Program provides loans and grants to community colleges and other community based organizations for developing outreach projects to provide women and other under-served farmers and ranchers with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to make informed risk management decisions for their operations. Small Farms Program: Many of America's small and family farms are owned by minorities. In the Pigford v. Glickman and Brewington v. Glickman lawsuits, the courts criticized the USDA as having an attitude of indifference toward the needs of minority small farmers and ranchers. The USDA's Small and Family Farm Program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, is an attempt to correct that. Project Forge: Another minority outreach effort of the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Project Forge provides assistance and training to the primarily Hispanic and other minority farmers and ranchers in rural regions of South Texas. Operating out of the University of Texas-Pan American, Project Forge has been successful in improving the economic condition in the South Texas region through both its training programs and development of farmers markets.