Executive Order 12898 and an accompanying Presidential Memorandum were issued to focus Federal attention on the environmental and human health conditions in minority communities and low-income communities with the goal of achieving environmental justice. The EO directs each federal agency to make environmental justice part of its mission, and sets responsibilities for agencies including developing a strategy to identify and address “disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations”.  The Presidential Memorandum directs federal agencies to analyze related environmental impacts in NEPA reviews.

On April 21, 2023, the Executive Office of the President issued EO 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All to supplement this EO.