Washington, D.C – This week, Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to dismiss several lawsuits concerning the hiring of police officers and firefighters across various jurisdictions nationwide. These legal actions, initiated by the previous administration, contested the fairness of using standard aptitude tests for selecting public safety candidates.
Attorney General Bondi emphasized the need for hiring based on skill and dedication to public safety rather than diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) quotas. The prior administration had identified statistical disparities in test results but lacked evidence of intentional discrimination.
The previous administration aimed to push cities towards DEI-based hiring practices, urging them to allocate substantial funds to compensate applicants with lower test scores. President Trump and Attorney General Bondi are working to eliminate unlawful discrimination while promoting merit-based opportunities, particularly for public safety personnel.
The dismissal signifies a move to eradicate illegal DEI preferences in both public and private sectors. Prioritizing merit in hiring decisions for fire and police departments is seen as critical to ensuring public safety.