Welch Statement on Trump Administration’s Actions Undermining DOJ’s Civil Rights Work

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) , member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s actions ordering the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division to freeze all new civil rights cases or investigations and indicating that it may withdraw from police reform agreements established by the Biden Administration: “The Trump Administration’s unprecedented actions sidelining DOJ’s crucial civil rights work is just the latest step in their plan to derail progress we’ve made to build a more just society. Under the Biden Administration, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division took important steps to address patterns of violence and discrimination in both local and federal law enforcement organizations and protect the civil and constitutional rights of all people in this country. The Justice Department must be allowed and empowered to enforce anti-discrimination laws to ensure equality and fairness for every person under the law.” ###