U.S. ECONOMY > The Workforce > Women at Work > Federal Women's Programs

History of the Federal Women's Program

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy introduced the concept of affirmative action and reaffirmed Executive Order 9980--non-discrimination policy in the federal government--that was signed in 1948. He also established the Commission on the Status of Women (Commission), chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt, to look into problems women encountered in employment in the Federal government.

Based on recommendations of the Commission, the Federal Women's Program was established in 1963 as a vehicle to provide opportunities for recruitment, selection, training, and advancement of women in the federal government. The primary purpose of the Federal Women's Program is to improve the status of women in the federal government through education and counseling of its members and agency employees and by providing management officials with information on workforce trends. Executive Order 12067 placed responsibility for overall leadership of the Federal government's entire Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) effort under Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). EEOC is responsible for the consistency of EEO policy in Federal agencies. The passing of Executive Order 11478 in 1969 required agencies to establish and maintain affirmative EEO programs. The Order also brought the Federal Women's Program into the overall EEO Program and placed it under the stewardship of the Director of EEO.