Case: DOJ Investigation of the Des Moines Public Schools
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Case Summary
On September 30, 2025, the DOJ Civil Rights Division announced that it had opened an investigation into Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS). At issue was a set of district initiatives aimed at increasing the number of teachers of color. The Department took the position that these race-conscious measures formed reasonable cause for the Attorney General to investigate whether DMPS engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
DOJ identified four district policies forming the basis for the investigation. First, DOJ cited Section 2.0 of the district's Board Governance Policies, which directed that the superintendent not allow the demographic composition of the teaching and learning staff to diverge from that of the student population. Second, it cited the DMPS’ 2021 Affirmative Action Plan, which set recruitment goals of increasing the number of teachers of color by several percentage points in elementary schools. Third, DOJ cited the district's Strategic Plan, which included revising the placement of teachers and leaders of color, maintaining affinity spaces, and gathering feedback from employees of color. Fourth, DOJ cited the “3D Coalition”, a program between DMPS and local universities that identified prospective minority teachers from university programs, guaranteed them interviews with the district, and required program participants to teach in the district for a period of time.
In an accompanying press release, the U.S. Attorney General stated that DEI initiatives and race-based hiring preferences in schools violated federal anti-discrimination laws, and called on districts to end such programs and return to merit-based employment practices.
According to contemporaneous news reporting, the school district confirmed that it received the letter, was reviewing it, and would respond accordingly. Reporting also indicated that federal immigration officials had arrested the DMPS Superintendent the previous week on a deportation order. Finally, reporting indicated that the Department of Education had outlined plans to investigate DEI policies in elementary, middle, and high schools.
As of August 2026, the Department had not issued any findings.
Summary Authors
Amanda Gao (8/13/2026)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. Department of Justice
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Defendants
School District
Des Moines Public Schools
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e
Other Dockets:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected Race(s):
Case Summary of DOJ Investigation of the Des Moines Public Schools, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48029/ (last updated 8/13/2026).