Public Complaint Process
Members of the public who believe they have been discriminated against by a DOT program or a DOT funding recipient have two options. A person can either contact the Office of Civil Rights with the DOT Operating Administration with whom the violation occurred or contact the Equity and Access Division of the Departmental Office of Civil Rights (DOCR) to file a complaint or receive assistance with any questions or concerns.
Complaints may be in writing and contain the following information:
- Sufficient information to understand the facts that led the complainant to believe discrimination occurred and when the discrimination took place
- A way to contact the complainant (a mailing address, and if applicable, a telephone number and e-mail address)
- Identification of the person or group injured by the alleged discrimination
- Identification of the person or organization alleged to have discriminated
- The basis for the alleged discrimination, e.g., disability, race, color, national origin, limited English proficiency, shared ancestry, or ethnic characteristics
The complaint typically must be filed within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act in order for DOT to take action.
Where to file a complaint with DOT:
DOT is committed to providing equal access. If you have difficulty understanding English or have a disability, free language assistance or other aids and services are available upon request. If you have questions, reach out to equityandaccess@dot.gov.