The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is undergoing a significant shift in focus under the Trump administration, emphasizing alleged “reverse discrimination” against White individuals. This change is encapsulated in a recent letter sent to state officials in Rhode Island, which reiterated that federal civil rights law “prohibits an employer from discriminating against an individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” Critics argue that this marks a departure from decades of federal efforts aimed at protecting minority groups in the United States.
In a notable interview with the *New York Times*, President Donald Trump claimed that civil rights protections have been detrimental to White individuals, stating, “I think that a lot of people were very badly treated… White people were very badly treated.” This rhetoric signals a broader initiative by the DOJ to investigate state affirmative action programs, which have historically aimed to promote diversity and inclusion in hiring and education.
The inquiry in Rhode Island is part of a larger trend, as the DOJ has launched investigations into various organizations and governments utilizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Just last week, the DOJ filed a lawsuit against Minnesota, challenging the state’s affirmative action hiring policies under the claim that they violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Former DOJ employees have voiced concerns about this pivot. Jen Swedish, a former attorney in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, noted the shift aligns with the president’s narrative that civil rights laws have unfairly disadvantaged White Americans. “The Civil Rights Division is acting on the president’s notion that civil rights laws have harmed White people,” she stated, highlighting the implications of this focus on a narrow demographic.
In December, Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, announced a new approach to civil rights cases, which included eliminating disparate-impact liability from regulations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This regulation had been intended to address discrimination resulting from seemingly neutral policies that disproportionately harm specific groups. Dhillon asserted that the previous regulations encouraged lawsuits without evidence of intentional discrimination, asserting that the new approach would “restore true equality under the law.”
The DOJ’s new stance on civil rights has raised alarm among advocates for racial equality. Derrick Johnson, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), criticized the administration’s narrative as misleading and harmful. He stated, “The president has taken on the effort to mislead the American public and distort the truth and history.” Johnson characterized this approach as a dangerous tactic that could fuel white supremacy by fostering a false narrative of victimization among White Americans.
The changes in the DOJ’s focus have prompted concerns about the impact on its staffing and effectiveness. Swedish reported that over 5,000 DOJ employees have departed since the beginning of the Trump administration, many citing the controversial policy shifts. She noted, “Those losses translate in hundreds or thousands of years of experience… These are people who have dedicated their entire lives to enforcing civil rights laws.”
Community activist John Wesley echoed these concerns, suggesting that the DOJ’s changes risk undermining protections for both White individuals and people of color. He emphasized that economic disadvantage is not limited to a single racial group, stating, “Economically impaired people come in all colors. If we change the protections or reduce them, we will hurt all people.”
As the DOJ continues to reshape its approach to civil rights, it remains unclear whether this strategy will attract new talent or further deter potential recruits. The agency has stated that it is actively hiring new employees, but the long-term implications of its current direction could have profound effects on the enforcement of civil rights protections in the United States.
In light of these developments, the ongoing debate over race, discrimination, and civil rights in America is likely to intensify, drawing attention from both supporters and critics of the administration’s policies.
