Devon Westhill

President and General Counsel

Center for Equal Opportunity

Devon Westhill

President and General Counsel

Center for Equal Opportunity

Devon Westhill currently serves as President and General Counsel of the Center for Equal Opportunity (CEO).

Prior to joining CEO, Mr. Westhill served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As Deputy Assistant Secretary, Mr. Westhill led the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR) at USDA. The OASCR team is responsible for enforcing federal civil rights laws, regulations, executive orders, and departmental policies that protect from discrimination the 100,000 strong USDA workforce and the millions of USDA customers. Thus, a principal focus of the OASCR team is to expeditiously investigate and adjudicate employee and customer complaints alleging discrimination. Additionally, core functions of the OASCR team include leading enterprise-wide compliance and proactive prevention activities, encouraging the participation of traditionally underrepresented populations in USDA activities, providing technical assistance to employees and customers, drafting analyses on the impact of USDA initiatives on vulnerable populations, and studying, reporting, and making recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and to the Congress on addressing civil rights-related issues at USDA.

Mr. Westhill’s career includes service in all three branches of government and the United States Navy, and work in both private law practice and the nonprofit sector.

A person listed as a contributor has spoken or otherwise participated in Regulatory Transparency Project events, publications, or multimedia presentations. A person's appearance on the website does not imply an endorsement or relationship between the person and the Regulatory Transparency Project. The Regulatory Transparency Project takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues. All expressions of opinion by a contributor are those of the contributor.

Contributions

Disparate Impact: Is Equal Outcome the Same as Equal Opportunity?

September 30, 2024

Should a policy be evaluated by the opportunities it creates or by the results it achieves? What are the tradeoffs if a policy is only enforced selectively?

 

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Deep Dive Episode 207 – Litigation Update: Investigating Title VI and Title IX Complaints

February 9, 2022

Mark Perry joined Devon Westhill to provide an update on his civil rights advocacy and what he views as “troubling signs” at the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

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Litigation Update: Investigating Title VI and Title IX Complaints

February 9, 2022

Mark Perry joined Devon Westhill to provide an update on his civil rights advocacy and what he views as “troubling signs” at the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.

Watch this video

Deep Dive Episode 202 – HUD and the Disparate Impact Rule

November 1, 2021

A panel of experts debates the pros and cons of a proposed HUD rule regarding disparate impacts.

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HUD and the Disparate Impact Rule

November 1, 2021

A panel of experts debates the pros and cons of a proposed HUD rule regarding disparate impacts.

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Jones Act Waived for Puerto Rico – RTP Expert Argues for Complete Repeal

Devon Westhill

September 28, 2017

Today, President Donald J. Trump waived the requirements of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 – better known as the Jones Act – for Hurricane-battered Puerto Rico. The waiver takes effect immediately.

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Regulation and the American Dream

Devon Westhill

July 14, 2017

The Regulatory Transparency Project is pleased to announce the release of the trailer video for its new Fourth Branch video series.  The trailer features several experts in regulation – including Senator Dan Sullivan – discussing both benefits and costs of regulation.

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Deep Dive Episode 2 – Regulatory Transparency Project: What and Why?

June 9, 2017

Amb. C. Boyden Gray and Devon Westhill, discuss the Regulatory Transparency Project and the value of a robust public conversation about the benefits and costs of regulatory policies.

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Deep Dive Episode 1 – Introduction

June 9, 2017

Devon Westhill introduces and describes the Regulatory Transparency Project’s podcast series.

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