The Department of Justice and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are joining forces to form an interagency task force aimed at combatting sexual harassment in housing across the U.S.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsGOP set to release controversial Biden report Trump's policies on refugees are as simple as ABCs Ocasio-Cortez, Velázquez call for convention to decide Puerto Rico status MORE and HUD Secretary Ben Carson Benjamin (Ben) Solomon CarsonState AGs condemn HUD rule allowing shelters to serve people on basis of biological sex Biden cannot keep letting Trump set the agenda The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump heads to New Hampshire after renomination speech MORE appeared together at an event Wednesday marking the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which seeks to put an end to housing discrimination on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion or disability.

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The task force is designed to be an extension of the Justice Department's pilot program to combat sexual harassment in housing headed by the department's Civil Rights Division.

The effort is intended to shield women from sexual harassment by landlords, maintenance workers, security guards and other workers at rental properties.

The pilot program was established to identify potential barriers to reporting sexual harassment to authorities while working with local law enforcement, public housing authorities and legal service providers.

President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE's Justice Department has settled or filed nine sexual harassment cases, including two cases last month.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against rental property owners in Cincinnati last month after tenants allegedly faced "sexual harassment, coercion, intimidation, and threats in violation of the federal Fair Housing Act," according to the Justice Department.

The department settled with two St. Louis landlords earlier this month after a lawsuit was filed claiming the two landlords violated the Fair Housing Act after 15 of their female tenants faced sexual harassment spanning 20 years.