The State of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) are being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice to determine whether the state “engaged in race- and sex-based discrimination in its state employment hiring practices.”
Earlier this week, Alpha News published a report about a DHS policy which requires agency staff to justify their reasons for hiring a “non-underrepresented candidate” for a job where there is allegedly “underrepresentation.”
In short, DHS hiring supervisors are required to explain why they did not hire someone from a “protected group(s)” when “representation of one or more protected groups is less than the group’s estimated availability in the relevant geographic area and labor force.”
According to the policy, “females, persons with disabilities, and members of the following minorities: Black, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaskan native” are all considered “protected group(s).”
A spokesperson for DHS previously told Alpha News that Minnesota law has required state agencies to justify non-affirmative action hires since 1987, and a hiring justification policy has been in place at DHS since 2002.
Since Alpha News’ report, the DHS policy has been blasted by state lawmakers as “explicitly racist” and “DEI on steroids.”
Now, the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating both Minnesota and DHS to determine whether the state has violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which bans employers from discriminating based on race, sex, color, national origin, or religion.
In a statement about the newly-unveiled investigation, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said “Minnesotans deserve to have their state government employees hired based on merit, not based on illegal DEI.”
In a letter sent to DHS and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon informed state officials that the investigation had begun.
“We have not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation,” wrote Dhillon. “We intend to consider all relevant information, and we welcome your assistance in helping to identify what that might be. We would appreciate your cooperation in our investigation.”
Alpha News reached out to DHS and Ellison for comment.
DHS reiterated that Minnesota law has required the agency to justify non-affirmative action hires for certain vacancies since 1987. The agency also cited a current Minnesota law which requires a state agency to justify its non-affirmative action hires when that agency fails to meet affirmative action hiring goals.
Meanwhile, Ellison’s office did not respond to a media inquiry.
The post Department of Justice launches investigation into Minnesota after Alpha News report appeared first on Alpha News MN.
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Author: Luke Sprinkel
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