BURSTThe Department of Justice said Monday it would launch an investigation into the City of Chicago over its hiring practices.
Officials said the probe would determine whether local leaders are engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They cited Mayor Brandon Johnson’s (D) Sunday comments at the Apostolic Church of God.
“There are some detractors that will try and push back on me and say, 'The only thing the mayor talks about is the hiring of Black people.' No. What I'm saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else," Johnson told the congregation in recorded remarks, lauding Chicago’s Black officials.
“We are the most generous people on the planet,” he added.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said his statement raises concerns about the city’s functionality. The Trump administration issued a January executive order seeking to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices from hiring models in the public and private sector.
“If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions,” he wrote in a Monday letter to Johnson’s office.
The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the investigation.
“Mayor Johnson is proud to have the most diverse administration in the history of our city. Our administration reflects the diversity and values of Chicago. Unfortunately, the current federal administration does not reflect either,” Johnson’s office said in a statement to ABC7.
“We are aware of the letter issued by the Department of Justice, but are awaiting the official receipt of the letter. Our Corporation Counsel will review it at that time," the statement said.
The mayor's office also released a demographic breakdown of the office. Staff members are 34.3 percent Black, 30.5 percent white, 23.8 percent Hispanic and 6.7 percent Asian, per the outlet.
The city of Chicago is 39 percent white, 28.4 percent Black, 29.6 percent Hispanic and 7 percent Asian, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.