AG Bondi dismisses DEI lawsuits brought against four police, fire departments

The Department of Justice has recently made a significant decision to dismiss Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) lawsuits that were brought against various police and fire departments across the country during the Biden administration. The lawsuits were filed due to concerns about aptitude tests being deemed discriminatory in certain cases.

The DOJ stated that these lawsuits did not provide evidence of intentional discrimination and were filed in an attempt to enforce race-based hiring practices after statistical disparities were observed among applicants of different races and genders. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the importance of selecting firefighters and police officers based on their skills and dedication to public safety rather than meeting DEI quotas.

In the proposed consent decrees, it was revealed that the departments utilized neutral selection tools such as credit checks, exams, and physical exercises to assess candidates for open positions. It was observed that White men tended to score better on these assessments. For instance, a case filed against the City of Durham in North Carolina highlighted unintentional discrimination against Black applicants who did not perform as well as White candidates on the written test, resulting in fewer Black employees.

The complaint suggested eliminating the neutral written test and providing back pay or preferential hiring to Black candidates who were not selected due to the written exam results. The estimated cost for this relief was around $980,000. Similarly, a case against the Maryland State Police recommended discontinuing the current selection tools, including a written test and a physical test, as Black applicants and women did not pass these tests as frequently as White applicants and men, respectively.

The DOJ mentioned that similar cases were filed against the cities of South Bend, Indiana, and Cobb County in Georgia. These dismissals are seen as a step towards eradicating illegal DEI preferences both in the government and private sector. The decision aligns with the administration’s efforts to address DEI practices.

Overall, the DOJ’s move to dismiss these DEI lawsuits signifies a shift towards a more merit-based approach in hiring practices within law enforcement and fire departments. It emphasizes the importance of selecting candidates based on their abilities and qualifications rather than focusing on meeting diversity quotas.