The action places the county at the center of a national debate over how to address the legacy of slavery and systemic racism.
Origins of the Plan
The reparations initiative began in 2020 when the City of Asheville and Buncombe County passed resolutions acknowledging the historical harms of slavery and segregation. The resolutions called for the creation of a Community Reparations Commission to develop recommendations. Appointed in March 2022, the commission, composed of community members, was tasked with studying racial disparities and proposing solutions in five key areas: criminal justice, economic development, education, health and wellness, and housing.
Over the next two years, the commission developed a final report with 39 recommendations. These proposals ranged from creating a Black wealth-building fund and prioritizing affordable housing for Black residents to revising school curricula and establishing a fund for direct cash payments to individuals who can demonstrate harm from racial discrimination.
DOJ's Warning
On September 4, 2025, the DOJ sent a letter to local officials, expressing concerns that a number of the recommendations, if implemented, would violate federal law. The letter from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon cited several key civil rights statutes, including the Fair Housing Act, Title VI, Title VII, and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The DOJ's legal position is that federal law generally prohibits race-specific programs that offer benefits, services, or opportunities exclusively to one racial group. The letter stated that the county's acknowledgment of having already set aside millions of dollars for the plan showed an intent to proceed with its implementation, raising the possibility of legal action if race-exclusive recommendations are enacted.
Response from Local Officials
Buncombe County and Asheville city officials have issued statements in response to the DOJ's letter. A spokesperson for Buncombe County, Kassi Day, affirmed the county's commitment to following federal anti-discrimination regulations. Asheville City spokesperson Kim Miller stated that the city's legal team would review the recommendations to ensure compliance with current laws. Both officials noted that the letter did not formally request a response from them at this time.
The City of Asheville is scheduled to receive the final report from the Community Reparations Commission today. This development marks a new phase for the reparations effort, as local leaders weigh the commission's proposals against the legal challenges now raised by the federal government.
WNCTimes
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