United States: Seven Democratic senators have requested information from the U.S. Justice Department about changes in the Presidential Administration to civil rights division operations, including the reassignment of senior officials who held leadership positions, as reported by Reuters.
The lawmakers who are Senators for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter dated Friday to Justice Department officials highlighting several administrative changes that they believe alter the division’s enforcement direction.
Concerns Over a Shift in Direction
“Taken together, these measures appear to be an attempt to cajole career officials at the division to leave voluntarily in order to fundamentally transform its work,” the senators wrote, asking for an accounting of all personnel changes that have occurred in the division since Trump returned to office in January.
Seven US senators, including Dick Durbin, Peter Welch, Mazie Hirono, Sheldon Whitehouse, Adam Schiff, Cory Booker, and Alex Padilla, added their names to the correspondence.
The Justice Department has not yet provided a response when asked for a comment.
Democratic senators question US Justice Department on civil rights changeshttps://t.co/8u5Bcx6ow8
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Civil Rights Division: A Brief History
The Civil Rights Act prompted the establishment of this department through its creation in 1957. During its early years, the division worked to ensure voting rights for Black Americans. After the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1957, Congress gradually expanded its mandate to protect American citizens against discrimination due to race and, eventually, sex, disability, gender identity, and additional categories.
Recent Changes Under Trump and Bondi
Under President Trump’s second term, combined with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s appointment, the division has started investigations into alleged police mistreatment while simultaneously launching its first probe to determine if Los Angeles violated gun rights laws. The department followed Trump’s footsteps by modifying their position on transgender rights policies while conducting investigations into reports of antisemitic incidents targeting pro-Palestinian protesters at U.S. colleges.
The Justice Department made an announcement last week to shift approximately twelve senior executive attorneys across multiple offices, which handle both police investigations and monitoring of voting rights violations, along with the enforcement of disability rights, as reported by Reuters.
Senators Stress the Importance of Career Expertise
“The division relies on the abilities and knowledge of its career staff to carry out the great responsibility of enforcing the nation’s civil rights laws without regard to politics,” the senators wrote.