The Trump administration took a decisive swing at what it calls “discriminatory” diversity policies Thursday announcing the dismissal of several Biden-era lawsuits that challenged police and firefighter hiring standards.
In a White House press release, President Donald J. Trump touted the move as a fulfillment of his pledge to prioritize merit over “divisive race-based obsessions,” ensuring public safety isn’t compromised by lowered benchmarks.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, delivering on Trump’s directive, axed four Department of Justice (DOJ) suits Wednesday against departments in North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, and Indiana.
The Biden DOJ had targeted these agencies for using race-neutral tools like written exams, physical tests, and credit checks—standards it claimed unfairly screened out applicants, prompting settlements for compensation and preferential hiring. Trump’s team says that approach watered down quality and put lives at risk.
Take United States v. City of Durham (North Carolina): Biden’s DOJ sued over a firefighter written exam, alleging discrimination and forcing the city to pay and rehire rejected applicants. Or United States v. Maryland State Police, where a basic physical and written test drew similar flak, costing the agency in payouts and retroactive seniority.
Cobb County, Georgia, and South Bend, Indiana, faced parallel hits—firefighters there tangled over exams and credit checks, police over physical and written hurdles.
“Americans deserve the best of the best keeping them safe—and in the Trump Administration, anything less is unacceptable,” the release stated, framing the dismissals as a rejection of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives that, in their view, sacrificed competence for ideology. Bondi’s DOJ pivot, announced just six weeks into Trump’s second term, signals a broader rollback of what the administration sees as Biden’s overreach into local hiring.
The move’s roots trace to Trump’s campaign, where he blasted “woke” policies for diluting public safety roles.
Now, with Bondi at the helm, the White House is doubling down—casting race-neutral standards as the gold standard and DEI as a dangerous detour.
Critics may argue it sidelines equity efforts, but Trump’s betting the public wants toughness, not trade-offs, on the front lines. For police and fire chiefs, it’s a green light to test high—and hire higher—without federal meddling.
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