The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered its Civil Rights Division to suspend all ongoing litigation and refrain from initiating new cases, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post. The directive, issued shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, represents a sweeping shift in federal civil rights enforcement policy.
Key Details of the Freeze
The memo, sent by DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle, instructs the Civil Rights Division’s acting head, Kathleen Wolfe, to halt:
- Filing new complaints.
- Submitting motions to intervene in ongoing cases.
- Issuing amicus briefs or statements of interest.
Additionally, the division must notify the DOJ’s leadership of any consent decrees finalized within the past 90 days, including those addressing police reform.
Police Reform in Jeopardy
This directive raises concerns about the fate of police reform agreements negotiated under the Biden administration. These include federal oversight agreements with cities like:
- Louisville, KY: Stemming from the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor.
- Minneapolis, MN: Following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, which ignited nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
Neither agreement has yet received judicial approval, leaving them vulnerable to the policy changes signaled by the Trump administration.
Sharp Policy Reversal on Civil Rights
The Civil Rights Division of the DOJ often sees dramatic shifts in priorities between Democratic and Republican administrations, but legal experts say this level of abrupt suspension is unprecedented.
“This is beyond unusual — it’s unprecedented,” said Damon Hewitt, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “This is exactly what most people feared: a Justice Department that was created to protect civil rights literally abdicating its duty.”
During President Joe Biden’s tenure, the DOJ initiated 12 investigations into state and local law enforcement agencies, issuing findings in nine cases. However, delays in finalizing reform agreements have left many initiatives incomplete.
Trump Administration’s Stance
President Trump has signaled his opposition to using federal power to address police misconduct. On the campaign trail, he endorsed aggressive policing tactics, including:
- Stop-and-frisk practices.
- More forceful responses to urban unrest.
In contrast to Biden’s DOJ, Trump’s first term did not pursue similar police accountability investigations.