The Trump administration has announced plans to reverse key Biden-era police reform initiatives in cities that have faced significant controversy surrounding high-profile police killings and incidents of brutality. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice declared its intention to dismiss oversight agreements that were previously established with police departments in cities such as Louisville, Kentucky and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In a significant policy shift, the Department of Justice will not only terminate these oversight agreements but will also cease investigations into potential constitutional violations by police in six additional cities, including Phoenix and Memphis. This decision comes just days before the fifth anniversary of the death of George Floyd, an African American man whose tragic death in 2020 while in police custody in Minneapolis ignited widespread protests and a national conversation about racial equity and police reform.
George Floyd's death led to the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin, who is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for murder. In announcing the rollback of these reforms, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon criticized the Biden administration for implementing oversight agreements that she claimed would have subjected local police departments to excessive federal micromanagement.
The Department of Justice has also indicated its plans to dismiss two lawsuits that had been filed against police departments in Louisville and Minneapolis, which accused local law enforcement of engaging in unconstitutional practices. Furthermore, investigations into several other police departments are set to be closed, signaling a significant shift in the federal government's approach to law enforcement oversight.
Under former President Joe Biden, the Justice Department, led by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland, initiated civil investigations into 12 different state and local law enforcement agencies since 2021. Of these investigations, four—specifically in Minneapolis, Louisville, Phoenix, and Lexington, Mississippi—were completed and revealed patterns of systemic police misconduct.
These investigations were a direct response to mounting public outcry over police brutality, particularly following high-profile incidents involving the deaths of Black Americans. Among these tragic cases were the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, a hospital worker who was shot and killed during a no-knock raid in Louisville in 2020. Former Louisville Metro Police officer Brett Hankison was found guilty of using excessive force in connection with Taylor's death.
The accountability agreements established by the Biden administration for both the Louisville and Minneapolis police departments included measures aimed at enhancing training, accountability, and improving data collection regarding police activities. However, the Trump administration has dismissed these findings as being based on flawed methodologies and incomplete data.
This policy reversal comes amid a significant upheaval within the Justice Department's civil rights division following Trump's re-election. Reports indicate that around 70% of the department's attorneys have resigned, expressing concerns over the shifting priorities under the new Trump administration, as reported by current and former officials.
