The Trump administration is putting a stop to federal agreements aimed at reforming police departments in cities like Minneapolis and Louisville. These agreements, known as consent decrees, were reached during the final weeks of the Biden administration after investigations uncovered widespread police misconduct in both cities.
The halt, announced in a memo from acting Associate Attorney General Chad Mizelle, freezes any settlements or agreements made before Trump took office on January 20, 2025. Mizelle also ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to stop finalizing or filing new reform agreements until further notice.
Consent decrees are legally binding agreements between the federal government and local police departments to enforce reforms. They are used when investigations find patterns of misconduct, such as excessive use of force or racial discrimination. These agreements typically outline specific changes police departments must make, like improving accountability and training, to address systemic issues.
The agreements in question for Louisville and Minneapolis were designed to address misconduct uncovered after two high-profile cases: the 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
The consent decree with Louisville followed a lengthy investigation into the city’s police department after Breonna Taylor’s fatal shooting during a botched raid. The proposed reforms included requiring officers to use de-escalation techniques, avoid unnecessary force, and hold officers accountable for misconduct through fair and consistent discipline.
The Minneapolis agreement came after a federal investigation found its police department engaged in excessive force and racial discrimination, particularly in the wake of George Floyd’s death. The reforms focused on stopping excessive force, eliminating racially biased policing, protecting First Amendment rights, and improving interactions with youth.
Both agreements had yet to be approved by federal judges, leaving them vulnerable to changes by the Trump administration.
Why Is the Trump Administration Blocking These Reforms?
The Trump administration has long opposed consent decrees, arguing they unfairly punish police departments and hinder officers’ ability to do their jobs. During his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to “back the blue,” signaling strong support for law enforcement even in cases involving misconduct.
In his first term, Trump’s DOJ similarly attempted to block a consent decree for the Baltimore Police Department, though a federal judge ultimately rejected the move.
Mizelle’s memo instructed DOJ lawyers to halt all new legal actions related to consent decrees and to notify him of any agreements finalized in the past 90 days. While new administrations often review pending litigation to ensure it aligns with their policies, legal experts say Trump’s actions are broader than usual, potentially signaling a full-scale rejection of federal police reform efforts.
The decision to halt these agreements could stall much-needed reforms in both cities. Without consent decrees, police departments may not face the same level of accountability or pressure to address systemic issues.
This is not the first time a Trump administration has tried to block consent decrees. In 2017, Trump’s DOJ attempted to scrap a deal with the Baltimore Police Department after it had been negotiated under President Obama. A federal judge, however, ruled that the agreement must move forward, saying the DOJ’s objections came too late.
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