The U.S. Justice Department has declared a halt to the federal police reform agreements in Minneapolis and Louisville, impacting pivotal decisions made following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
According to Newsweek, the recent announcement precedes the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death, a significant moment that had sparked extensive nationwide protests and demands for police reform.
In response to the tragic events in 2020, the Justice Department initially set up federal settlement agreements with the cities to enforce comprehensive police reforms. George Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, pinned him down with a knee on his neck for over nine minutes, leading to Floyd's death. This event significantly fueled the Black Lives Matter movement.
Similarly, Breonna Taylor died during a no-knock police raid on March 13, 2020, in Louisville. The raid, which was part of a narcotics investigation, resulted in Taylor being fatally shot even though no narcotics were discovered in her apartment.
The settlement agreements, also known as consent decrees, were aimed at mandating police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville to undergo substantial reforms to address and prevent incidents of racial discrimination and excessive use of force.
The Biden administration finalized the Minneapolis agreement in January 2025. However, the agreement faced a halt and was eventually withdrawn under the succeeding Trump administration, leading to concerns about the future of police reform in the area.
While the federal decrees have been withdrawn, a consent decree with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights remains effective in Minneapolis. This state-level decree continues to enforce reforms following findings of systemic racial discrimination within the city’s police department.
Rebecca Lucero, the Minnesota Human Rights Commissioner, emphasized the commitment to continuing state-level reforms. "The city and MPD must make transformational changes to address race-based policing," Lucero stated, reinforcing the ongoing need for systemic change.
The decision to withdraw was officially announced by Andrew Darlington of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, who filed the notice in a federal court in Minnesota. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon supported the decision, suggesting that the federal oversight of local police should only occur under exceptional circumstances.
"It's our view at the Justice Department Civil Rights Division under the Trump administration that federal micromanagement of local police should be a rare exception, and not the norm," said Dhillon, explaining the administration’s reasoning behind the withdrawal.
The withdrawal has sparked a broad spectrum of reactions. Derrick Johnson, President of the NAACP, criticized the move harshly. "It's no surprise that Trump's Department of Coverups and Vengeance isn't seeking justice. It’s been five years, and police reform legislation still hasn't passed in Congress, and police departments still haven't been held accountable. Five years. We elect people to take action, and all they seem to do is take action against us. How much longer do you need to actually do something?" Johnson expressed his frustration over the lack of progress.
Despite the federal government’s withdrawal, local leaders in Minneapolis and Louisville have expressed their intentions to uphold commitments to reform. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara affirmed his dedication to maintaining the standards outlined in the original federal agreement.
Similarly, Louisville’s Police Chief Paul Humphrey emphasized continuity in local efforts to enhance police practices. "Throughout all of that process, we never hesitated, we never delayed, we never took a step back in trying to learn how to do our jobs better and serve the community better. It’s not about these words on this paper, it’s about the work that the men and women of LMPD, the men and women of metro government, and the community will do together in order to make us a safer, better place," Humphrey remarked.
This recent development in federal oversight of police reforms continues to stir significant discussion and debate, reflecting the ongoing national struggle between local autonomy and the need for systemic change in law enforcement practices across the United States.