Trump’s Justice Department halts police reform agreements

The Trump administration is putting a halt to agreements that require reforms of police departments where the Justice Department found a pattern of misconduct, according to a memo issued Wednesday.

The Trump administration is putting a halt to agreements that require reforms of police departments where the Justice Department found a pattern of misconduct, according to a memo issued Wednesday. “The new administration may wish to reconsider settlements and consent decrees negotiated and approved by the prior administration,” said the memo issued by acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle. Mizelle ordered the Justice Department’s civil rights division to “not execute or finalize any settlements or consent decrees approved prior to January 20, 2025, 12:00pm.” The memo also orders civil rights lawyers to notify Mizelle of any settlements or consent decrees finalized in the past 90 days. The move was widely anticipated with the change of administrations and has the potential to upend police reform efforts in Minneapolis, and Louisville, Kentucky, which were announced by the Justice Department in the closing weeks of the Biden administration. The consent decree agreements with both cities are awaiting final approval by judges in those states, meaning that the Trump administration’s Justice Department could seek to scuttle the deals. President Donald Trump and Republican allies have long criticized the use of court-ordered consent decrees to enforce police reform efforts.