The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into the city of Chicago following Mayor Brandon Johnson’s public comments suggesting he based hiring decisions on race. The probe, led by the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, will examine whether these actions violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon issued a letter to Mayor Johnson on Monday announcing the investigation. Dhillon cited Johnson’s remarks delivered Sunday at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, where he openly emphasized the racial makeup of his administration’s leadership team.
Johnson reportedly highlighted the number of black officials in top city roles, stating he wanted to “ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business.” The DOJ said such comments raise serious concerns that race may have been the primary factor in key hiring decisions.
“In your remarks…you ‘highlight[ed] the number of Black officials in [your] administration,’” the DOJ letter stated. “You then said that you were ‘laying’ these positions ‘out’ to ‘ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business.’” Dhillon wrote that this could indicate a pattern or practice of discrimination in violation of federal law.
The Civil Rights Division is specifically focused on whether these alleged practices extended beyond high-level appointments to broader city employment policies.
The investigation comes as federal law explicitly prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. If violations are confirmed, the city could face legal consequences or be compelled to implement policy changes.
Mayor Johnson’s office has not yet issued a formal response to the investigation.
