Case: DOJ Investigation of the City of Chicago
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Case Summary
On May 19, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into whether the City of Chicago had engaged in a pattern of race discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq.
In its notice letter to the City of Chicago, the DOJ stated that its investigation was based on remarks made by the Mayor of Chicago during a visit to a local Black church in which the mayor highlighted the number of Black officials in his administration. The investigation was announced only one day after the mayor’s visit and remarks. The notice letter cited only those remarks as the basis for opening the investigationas, which highlighted that a Black woman was the deputy mayor, a Black woman ran the department of planning and development, and a Black woman was the deputy mayor for infrastructure. Additionally, the mayor stated that a Black man was the chief operations officer for the city, a Black woman was the budget director, and a Black man was his senior advisor.
These remarks were the stated basis for the DOJ’s investigation. As of July 27, 2026, this investigation is still ongoing.
Summary Authors
Sadie Henderson (7/27/2026)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
City
City of Chicago
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Other Dockets:
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Affected Race(s):
Case Summary of DOJ Investigation of the City of Chicago, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48027/ (last updated 7/27/2026).