Trump’s new Justice Department leadership orders a freeze on civil rights cases

The new Justice Department leadership under President Trump has halted civil rights litigation and may reconsider police reform agreements negotiated by the Biden administration. The memos obtained by The Associated Press direct attorneys to suspend new complaints and notify leadership of recent settlements or consent decrees. This raises concerns about abandoning agreements in Louisville and Minneapolis, reached after investigations found police misconduct. The new chief of staff’s memos signal significant changes in the Civil Rights Division. It remains uncertain how long the freeze on litigation will last.