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Democratic Senators Demand Clarification on DOJ Civil Rights Division Changes
A coalition of seven Democratic senators has raised concerns regarding recent modifications within the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, focusing on policy alterations and new staff configurations.
The senators, all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, submitted a letter to DOJ officials on Friday, seeking insight into the ongoing developments affecting the Civil Rights Division.
“Recent reports indicate that at least five sections within the Division have received emails instituting changes to established enforcement objectives,” the senators stated.
The five concerned sections are tasked with safeguarding voting rights, combating discrimination among federal funding recipients, addressing unlawful bias in housing, ensuring non-discrimination in education, and defending the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Signatories of the letter include Senators Peter Welch (Vt.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Cory Booker (N.J.), Alex Padilla (Calif.), and Adam Schiff (Calif.).
The inquiry follows a significant reorganization initiated during the Trump administration, which saw numerous career leaders ousted from their roles. Many have been reassigned to unrelated positions, resulting in a notable leadership vacuum in the division.
This transition occurred shortly after the inauguration of Harmeet Dhillon as the Trump administration’s assistant attorney general for civil rights.
The senators expressed their apprehensions that these changes may conflict with the intentions of Congress when it passed pivotal civil rights legislation.
Moreover, the lawmakers emphasized the growing absence of established leadership within the division, asserting that the recent changes reflect a broader trend within the DOJ.
“The Division relies on the expertise and experience of its staff to effectively enforce the nation’s civil rights laws, independent of political influence,” they remarked.
Additionally, the senators highlighted reports indicating that Division employees were offered a second voluntary buyout option, which they view as a potential attempt to encourage career officials to depart, thereby enabling alterations to the division’s functions.
They have formally requested a briefing with the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution to further discuss the implications of these changes within the forthcoming days.
In a related effort, the Democratic senators urged Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, to convene an oversight hearing featuring Dhillon to address these pressing issues.
Source
thehill.com