The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the City of Chicago, citing concerns that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration may be engaging in racially discriminatory hiring practices in violation of federal law, as per Fox News.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division sent a letter to Mayor Johnson on Monday, notifying him that the department is formally investigating potential violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
“Our investigation is based on information suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race,” Dhillon wrote in the letter.
The letter specifically referenced remarks made by Johnson during a recent appearance at the Apostolic Church of God in the Woodlawn neighborhood, where the mayor highlighted the racial backgrounds of several senior officials in his administration.
In response to critics who accused him of prioritizing Black hires, Johnson told the congregation:
“No, what I’m saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet.”
Johnson went on to cite multiple top city officials — including his deputy mayor for neighborhood development, deputy mayor for infrastructure, budget director, and commissioner of planning and development — all of whom, he emphasized, are Black women. He also mentioned that both his chief operations officer and senior advisor are Black men.
In her letter, Dhillon expressed concern that these public statements may indicate a broader pattern of discriminatory hiring.
“You then said that you were ‘laying’ these positions ‘out’ to ‘ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business,’” Dhillon wrote. “Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination.”
The assistant attorney general further noted that if race-based considerations are influencing top-level appointments, it raises questions about how lower-level positions are being filled.
While the DOJ has not yet drawn any conclusions, Dhillon emphasized that the investigation is in its early stages and welcomed Mayor Johnson’s cooperation.
Mayor Johnson, a progressive Democrat, has previously made public statements regarding racial equity. In a 2021 press conference following the re-election of President Donald Trump, Johnson, then a local official, said the president’s policies posed a threat to minority communities.
“His threat is not just towards new arrivals and undocumented families,” Johnson said at the time. “His threats are also against Black families. We’re going to protect Black folks, Brown folks, Asian folks. The City of Chicago will be better, stronger and safer despite who’s in the White House.”
