In 1972, Congress amended the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to extend the Act’s anti-discrimination protections to Federal employees.  Government agencies with responsibility for implementing the Act began to focus increased attention on underrepresented groups in the Federal workforce, such as racial/ethnic minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities, including disabled veterans.  One way in which this was done was through the establishment of Special Emphasis Programs (SEPs).

SEPs have been authorized since the late 1960s and 1970s by Executive Branch regulations and Presidential Executive Orders for the purposes of helping underrepresented groups enter into the Federal workforce, develop professionally, and advance within its ranks.   The basic U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulatory provision on SEPs states that each agency shall:

Designate a Director of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO Director), EEO Officer(s), and such Special Emphasis Program Managers (e.g., People With Disabilities Program, Federal Women's Program and Hispanic Employment Program)… as may be necessary to carry out the functions described in this part in all organizational units of the agency and at all agency installations.

DNFSB has designated seven special emphasis programs: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black/African American History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, Women’s Equality Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the Native American Heritage Month.