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yesterday

Justice Department Withdraws Police Reform Agreements in Minneapolis and Louisville

The DOJ ends federal oversight efforts just days before the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, while affected cities pledge to continue reforms independently.

In this June 2020 photo shows a Minneapolis Police officer in uniform in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Harmeet Dhillon, President Donald Trump's nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, prepares for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. A civil liberties lawyer who served vice chair of the California Republican Party, Dhillion lead numerous unsuccessful lawsuits to halt the implementation of stay-at-home orders and other restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Demonstarters walk carrying a banner and Palestinian flags as Black Lives Matter activists and supporters gather to mark the fifth anniversary of the May 25, 2020 Minneapolis murder of George Floyd, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. May 21, 2025. REUTERS/David Swanson/File Photo

Overview

  • The DOJ, under Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, announced the dismissal of consent decrees with Minneapolis and Louisville, citing concerns over local control and flawed legal foundations.
  • This decision also includes retracting findings of unconstitutional policing and closing investigations into six other departments, including Phoenix, Memphis, and the Louisiana State Police.
  • Minneapolis and Louisville city leaders reaffirm their commitment to implementing reforms outlined in the federal agreements, with Minneapolis also bound by a separate state-level consent decree.
  • The move represents a broader shift in the Civil Rights Division's priorities under Dhillon, focusing less on systemic policing oversight and more on issues like alleged antisemitism and diversity initiatives.
  • The announcement comes just before the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, a pivotal moment that spurred calls for police reform and racial justice worldwide.