Department of Justice investigates Minnesota’s recruitment practice

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened an investigation into Minnesota to determine whether countries, including the Minnesota Department of Human Services, engage in racial and gender-based discrimination in their hiring practices.

DOJ’s head of civil rights department, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, sent a speech to Minnesota Assorte on Thursday to Minnesota Assorte”’Minesnesota Assorte”””

“Specifically, we have reason to believe that the Minnesota Department of Human Services is engaging in illegal actions by adopting and about to implement its ‘reason for employment’ policy,” Dhillon said in a 2-page letter.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services introduced a new policy earlier this month requiring supervisors to provide “reasons for employment” when seeking to hire non-representative candidates, while job openings in underrepresentative job categories.”

The Trump administration has cracked down on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, arguing it as discriminatory to Asian and white people.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services told the Associated Press that it “complys all state and federal recruitment laws,” adding that since 1987, state laws have required “reasons for non-bearable actions for hiring for certain positions.”

Trump and his allies have been disconnected from Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz (D), who was former Vice President Harris’s campaign partner in 2024, has since criticized the administration’s decision-making. Ellison also filed a lawsuit against the government.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement Thursday that Minnesota “should hire its state employees based on merits, not based on illegal DEI.”

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