The "JUST Act of 2025" aims to significantly enhance civil rights accountability and enforcement within the Department of Agriculture (USDA). It mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture take appropriate corrective action, including disciplinary measures, against any employee found to have engaged in discriminatory actions, retaliation, harassment, or other civil rights misconduct. This includes specific failures such as not providing required service receipts, accurate information, or timely processing of applications.

The bill strengthens the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights by making it a Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed position, responsible for ensuring department-wide civil rights compliance and coordinating related laws. It also establishes an Office of Legal Advisor for Civil Rights, reporting directly to the Assistant Secretary, to provide legal advice for compliance and impartial investigations, explicitly not to defend the Department.

Furthermore, the legislation grants the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights new authority to provide equitable relief to program participants who file civil rights complaints or to farmers and ranchers who acted in good faith but faced detriment. These decisions do not require prior approval and can only be reversed by the Secretary. An independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson is also created to assist producers in navigating the civil rights review process, promote awareness of appeals, and make recommendations for equitable program access.

Finally, the bill amends existing law to shift the burden of proof in National Appeals Division hearings. The USDA agency will now be required to prove by substantial evidence that its adverse decision was valid, rather than the appellant bearing the burden.