America First Legal has filed a federal civil rights complaint against Henry Ford Health, alleging systemic violations of federal nondiscrimination laws. The complaint, submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights, accuses the Detroit-based hospital system of embedding race- and sex-based discrimination into its operations, medical training programs, employment practices, and patient services. The practices have reportedly been upheld by nearly $1 billion in federal grants awarded since 2021, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Henry Ford Health receives federal financial assistance from HHS and, according to the complaint, applies race and identity-based preferences within its operations under the guise of DEI. These actions allegedly violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, and Executive Order 14173, which require the elimination of unlawful discrimination and the restoration of merit-based opportunities in federal agencies.
America First Legal claims that while Henry Ford Health has been removing or revising some DEI-related content from its public web pages, internal documents confirm the persistence of these policies. Megan Redshaw, an attorney for America First Legal, stated, “Federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin. It does not carve out exceptions for discrimination to further trendy bureaucratic slogans like ‘health equity’ or ‘social determinants of health.’”
Redshaw further criticized Henry Ford's DEI policies as "textbook violations of Title VI," arguing that taxpayer funds should not support these practices. The complaint calls on the HHS Office for Civil Rights to investigate Henry Ford Health and review compliance across all HHS-funded programs.
America First Legal also urges that any unlawful conduct outside the Office for Civil Rights' jurisdiction be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice and the HHS Office of Inspector General. According to Redshaw, "Henry Ford Health’s actions exemplify how DEI ideology erodes the foundational principles of equal protection and nondiscrimination."
The complaint emphasizes the need for the Office for Civil Rights to ensure federal funding does not support discriminatory practices under the guise of equity initiatives.