The US Justice Department has halted all legal disputes of the 1957 civil rights division. This is reported by several US media outlets in unison. Agreements that prescribe reforms in police stations, where the Justice Department has found a pattern of misconduct, have also been put on hold.
The civil rights division is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws and the Americans with Disabilities Act, among other things. It is tasked with enforcing a law to prevent hate crimes motivated by the victim’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is intended to ensure equal participation in elections, particularly for African Americans, is also within the division’s purview.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump already suspended a decree that prohibits government contractors from discriminating on the basis of ethnicity, skin color, religion, gender, or national origin. The 1965 executive order issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson also required contractors to take measures to ensure that minority groups, including job applicants, are included.
Furthermore, the Trump administration sent a memo on Wednesday to the heads of agencies and federal departments, such as NASA, instructing them to place on leave employees who focus on diversity, justice, and integration. By Thursday, the federal agencies must submit a list of the affected offices and employees. By January 31, the agencies must submit a plan for the layoff of the employees.