The Department of Justice is investigating the City of Austin for discrimination, citing its “diversity, equity, and inclusion” hiring practices.
The DOJ launched an investigation on September 18 to determine if Austin uses employment practices that discriminate based on race, sex, color, and national origin, according to a press release.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminatory race-based employment practices and DEI policies, in Austin or other cities,” said Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
“Such practices are illegal and un-American, and we will vigorously protect equal opportunity and hold accountable those who seek to perpetuate vestiges of outlawed discrimination.”
The DOJ cited Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as the basis for its investigation. The statute prohibits employers from discriminating against or refusing to employ any individual because of their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, or from targeting someone for employment on the same grounds.
Dhillon notified Austin Mayor Kirk Watson of the investigation on September 18.
“Our investigation is based on information that the City of Austin may be engaged in employment practices that discriminate against employees, job applicants, and training program participants based on race, color, sex, or national origin in violation of Title VII,” she wrote.
Austin’s Office for Equity and Inclusion, Equity Division, apparently uses so-called “racial equity” to shape its hiring practices. According to its website, the agency works across city departments and with outside groups to “build capacity and leadership in working from a racial equity lens.” It also takes aim at what it calls “institutional racism and implicit bias.”
Austin allegedly uses a plan to advance race-based hiring through “equity,” which, as opposed to equality, aims to engineer outcomes based upon race.
The plan reportedly expects managers to “delineate clear racial equity expectations regarding hiring” and “incorporate equity throughout all phases of hiring processes,” and applies “stronger racial equity criteria to the design and execution of executive-level searches” and hiring.
It also allegedly tells staff to “analyze demographic data” to eliminate any perceived “gaps of representation,” and to use “racial equity in decisions, including policies, practices, programs, and budgets.”
“I have authorized a full investigation to determine whether the City is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above,” Dhillon wrote. “We have not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation.”
Dhillon asked for Watson’s cooperation with the investigation. She assigned the case to Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Sell.
The City of Dallas still runs an “Office of Equity and Inclusion,” which aims for “equity, inclusion, and social justice so all Dallasites can thrive.”
Its Equity Division focuses on “eliminating disparities while improving outcomes for all.” Though the city has archived its Racial Equity Plan to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order against DEI discrimination.
A spokesman for the Grand Prairie Police Department recently told The Dallas Express the agency continues advancing DEI. In August, Fort Worth shut down its DEI program for legal and financial reasons.