AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- The Department of Justice said it's launching a civil rights investigation into the City of Austin's hiring and employment practices, specifically citing the city's Office of Equity and Inclusion.
The DOJ's inquiry will focus on the office's "racial equity lens" and its goal of integrating "explicit consideration of racial equity in decisions, including policies, practices, programs and budgets."
According to a release, the investigation will also focus on specific language from the city's Office of Equity and Inclusion that includes the following:
"Delineate clear racial equity expectations regarding hiring, incentivizing use of best practices within hiring processes to minimize bias, and incorporate equity throughout all phases of hiring processes."
"Apply stronger racial equity criteria to the design and execution of executive-level searches as a part of an overall review of hiring and HR practices."
"The Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminatory race-based employment practices and DEI policies, in Austin or other cities," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. "Such practices are illegal and un-American, and we will vigorously protect equal opportunity and hold accountable those who seek to perpetuate vestiges of outlawed discrimination."