AG Bondi dismisses DEI lawsuits brought against police, fire departments under Biden administration

The Department of Justice has dropped lawsuits filed under the Biden administration that challenged hiring practices in police and fire departments over alleged discrimination in aptitude testing.

These lawsuits, aimed at enforcing race-based hiring due to statistical disparities in test performance across racial and gender groups, lacked evidence of intentional discrimination, according to the DOJ.

"Communities deserve first responders chosen for their skills and commitment to safety, not DEI quotas," said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The lawsuits had targeted neutral selection methods, such as credit checks, written exams, and physical fitness tests, which often resulted in White male candidates scoring higher.

For instance, a case against the City of Durham (North Carolina) claimed that Black applicants were disproportionately failing a written test requiring a 70% passing score, reducing their hiring prospects. The lawsuit sought to eliminate the test and compensate affected candidates with nearly $980,000 in back pay and preferential hiring.

Another case against the Maryland State Police alleged discrimination because Black candidates failed the written test more frequently than White applicants, while women struggled more with the physical requirements, including push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1.5-mile run.

The lawsuit proposed abandoning these selection tools and awarding $2.75 million in monetary relief to affected Black and female candidates.

Similar lawsuits had been filed against South Bend, Indiana, and Cobb County, Georgia, seeking similar remedies.

By dismissing these cases, the DOJ signaled a broader effort to eliminate DEI-based hiring preferences in both government and private sectors.

This article was reported by journalist Angelia.