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The Justice Department has officially halted all new civil rights litigation and signaled it may roll back Biden-era police reform agreements.
Some shit you should know before you read: During Biden’s time in office, the Justice Department kicked up the amount of civil rights lawsuits and investigations, mainly targeting police misconduct and racial discrimination. Under Attorney General Merrick Garland, the department launched 12 investigations into local police departments, including in Minneapolis and Louisville, following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. One significant case involved the Minneapolis Police Department, where a federal investigation revealed patterns of racially discriminatory practices and excessive use of force, resulting in a proposed consent decree aimed at overhauling training and banning chokeholds.

What’s going on now: In memos issued by Chad Mizelle, the newly appointed chief of staff at the Justice Department, the Civil Rights Division was ordered to halt all new litigation, effectively freezing the filing of civil rights lawsuits and other legal actions. The memos, described as part of a broader effort to align the department’s work with the Trump administration’s priorities, directed attorneys not to file any new complaints, motions to intervene, amicus briefs, or statements of interest without prior approval from senior Trump appointees.
One memo specifically required DOJ attorneys to notify leadership of any consent decrees or settlements finalized within the previous 90 days, particularly those negotiated under the Biden administration. It stated that the new administration “may wish to reconsider” these agreements, leaving the fate of key police reform efforts, such as those in Louisville and Minneapolis, in jeopardy.
This all comes as the Justice Department’s actions have drawn criticism and support from both sides of the political aisle. Critics, including civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers, argue that the litigation freeze and potential rollback of consent decrees signal a “dangerous” retreat from holding police departments accountable for misconduct. On the other hand, supporters of the freeze view the decision as a necessary recalibration of the Justice Department’s priorities, arguing that federal oversight hampers police departments’ ability to effectively perform their duties.