Data updated April 3, 2025

What does the Commission on Civil Rights do?

Updates published annually

The US Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) is an independent, bipartisan federal agency responsible for informing national civil rights policy and monitoring enforcement of federal civil rights laws. It investigates voting rights complaints and studies issues related to discrimination and unequal treatment based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. It also collects and shares information on civil rights issues to support public understanding and policy development. It was established in 1957.

In FY 2024,

$14.2M

was spent by the Commission on Civil Rights

In FY 2024,

<0.1%

of federal spending was by the Commission on Civil Rights

How much does the Commission on Civil Rights spend?

The Commission on Civil Rights spent $14.2 million in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 0.00021% of the $6.78 trillion in overall federal spending. The department ranked 91 among federal agencies in total spending.

The Commission on Civil Rights accounted for <0.1% of all federal spending in FY 2024.

Share of USCCR net spending compared to the top ten highest spending agencies in FY 2024

Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Commission on Civil Rights' federal spending has decreased from $46.9 million in 1980 to $14.2 million in 2024.

The Commission on Civil Rights’s federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Yearly federal net spending by USCCR, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 1980–2024

Since 1980, the Commission on Civil Rights' spending has decreased 69.7%, while overall government spending has increased 193.7%.

The department’s spending grew less than overall spending, which means that the department’s share of the federal budget decreased. In 2024, USCCR accounted for 0.00021% of all federal spending. That’s 0.000045 percentage points lower than 2014 and 0.0018 percentage points lower than in 1980.

Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Commission on Civil Rights’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was lower than in FY 1980.

Percentage of federal budget dedicated to USCCR, FYs 1980–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.

In FY 2024, all of the Commission on Civil Rights' spending was direct.

The chart below outlines all USCCR spending.

How did the Commission on Civil Rights spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to USCCR, FY 2024

How many people work for the Commission on Civil Rights?

Some 62 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for the Commission on Civil Rights as of September 2024. This is 24% more people than the agency staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Commission on Civil Rights has increased 24% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for USCCR, September 2010–2024

USCCR accounts for 0.0027% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. USCCR constituted a larger share of the overall federal workforce in September 2024 than in 2010 (0.0024%).

While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Commission on Civil Rights' share of the workforce (0.0027%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.00021%).

Who leads the US Commission on Civil Rights?

The USCCR is led by a Chairperson, who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The Commission consists of eight commissioners—four appointed by the president, two by the president pro tempore of the Senate, and two by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Commissioners serve staggered six-year terms, and the president designates one of them to serve as Chair.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement