White House Releases National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate

Written By Mosaic Feds

January 9, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Biden-Harris Administration unveiled the first U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate on December 12, 2024. Aimed at addressing and curbing the rising levels of discrimination, harassment, and violence faced by Muslim and Arab Americans, the strategy outlines actions to combat the root causes of Islamophobia and Anti-Arab sentiments in America.

The White House cited a recent surge in incidents in 2023 of hate and bias, with Muslim and Arab communities increasingly targeted in public discourse, policy, and by extremist groups, and longstanding discrimination as a catalyst for this initiative. The National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate contains more than 100 Executive Branch Actions and more than 100 Calls to Action to every sector of society to prevent and address such violent attacks and to ensure that Muslim and Arab Americans fully enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that are fundamental to our nation.

Government Agencies Involved

The strategy also outlines the involvement of numerous government agencies, each tasked with specific roles in addressing the issues outlined. The following agencies are mentioned by name:

  • Department of Justice (DOJ)

  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

  • Department of Education (ED)

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

  • Department of Labor (DOL)

  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

The following tasks present potential direct impacts for federal employees:

  • The strategy promises greater mental health resources and legal assistance for victims of Islamophobia and Anti-Arab hate is critical in helping those affected by discrimination and violence to seek justice and healing.

  • Focus on creating an inclusive and supportive environment for Muslim and Arab employees in the federal workforce, through efforts to improve recruitment, retention, and career advancement for Muslim and Arab Americans within federal agencies.

  • The strategy recognizes the critical importance of ensuring that Muslims can freely practice their religion, including the right to perform daily prayers without facing discrimination or undue hardship. This is especially pertinent for federal employees who may need accommodations for religious practices such as the daily prayers that are integral to the faith of many Muslims. The strategy emphasizes the need for reasonable accommodations in federal workplaces to ensure that religious freedom is upheld.

  • The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the primary federal agency responsible for overseeing such workplace accommodations. OPM provides guidelines to federal agencies on how to accommodate the religious needs of employees, including adjusting schedules and providing prayer spaces for employees who require them during the workday. OPM is also tasked with “working with federal agencies to ensure that diversity training is provided to staff at all levels, while also developing policies that address workplace discrimination and harassment.”

The future of this strategy remains uncertain, as it will depend on the priorities and actions of the incoming administration as well as the engagement level of involved federal agencies. Mosaic will continue offering information and resources to its members to support their understanding of how the National Strategy may affect the lives of Muslim federal employees and the wider Muslim community.

CONTACT: contact@mosaicfeds.org 

Mosaic Muslim Federal Employee Association www.mosaicfeds.org

Mosaic Feds
Next

Mosaic is Hiring!