(AURN News) — The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into whether the city of Chicago is making race-based hiring decisions — specifically, whether it has hired ‘too many Black people’ — according to a letter sent to Mayor Brandon Johnson.
The probe follows comments Johnson made during a recent visit to the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, where he praised the racial diversity within his administration.
In remarks cited by the DOJ, Johnson listed several senior-level city officials and highlighted their race.
According to a letter from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division, the department’s investigation is “based on information suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race.”
The letter quotes Johnson as saying:
- “Business and economic neighborhood development, the deputy mayor is a Black woman.”
- “Department of planning and development is a Black woman.”
- “Infrastructure, deputy mayor is a Black woman.”
- “Chief operations officer is a Black man.”
- “Budget director is a Black woman.”
- “Senior advisor is a Black man.”
According to the letter, Johnson reportedly concluded that list by saying he was “laying” these positions “out” to “ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business.”
In response, the DOJ says it is examining whether such decisions reflect a broader “pattern or practice of discrimination” in city hiring.
“If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions,” Dhillon wrote.
The letter also states that no conclusions have been reached and invites Johnson’s cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
This marks the latest move by the Trump administration in what it has described as a fight against ‘woke DEI.’ Officials have made rolling back diversity-focused hiring initiatives a key policy goal. One lingering question: How does this benefit Black America?
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