Case: DOJ Investigation of Rhode Island

No Court

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On June 5, 2025, the Civil Rights Division announced that it had opened an investigation into whether Rhode Island’s affirmative action program for state government employees violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the Department of Justice’s June 4, 2025, notification letter to Rhode Island, the investigation would determine whether the state was engaged in a pattern or practice of employment discrimination based on race, national origin, or other protected characteris…

On June 5, 2025, the Civil Rights Division announced that it had opened an investigation into whether Rhode Island’s affirmative action program for state government employees violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

According to the Department of Justice’s June 4, 2025, notification letter to Rhode Island, the investigation would determine whether the state was engaged in a pattern or practice of employment discrimination based on race, national origin, or other protected characteristics through its affirmative action program governing state employment. The letter stated that the investigation was prompted by information suggesting that Rhode Island’s affirmative action policies might discriminate in violation of Title VII, but emphasized that the Department had not reached any conclusions and would consider all relevant information during the investigation.

According to the Brown Daily Herald, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha stated that the June 4 notification letter was the only communication the state had received from the Department of Justice and that the investigation’s scope was unclear. He also said that the state did not intend to respond to the letter unless the investigation produced findings warranting a response. 

Summary Authors

Dahlia Gottlieb (11/7/2026)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Investigation of the Employment Practices of the Rhode Island State Government, Pursuant to Section 707 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as Amended

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

Notice of Investigation or Suit/Demand Letter

Docket

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory:

Rhode Island

Case Type(s):

Equal Employment

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

State

The State of Rhode Island

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Title VII (including PDA), 42 U.S.C. § 2000e

Other Dockets:

No Court

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Issues

General/Misc.:

Pattern or Practice

Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)

Discrimination Area:

Hiring

Discrimination Basis:

National origin discrimination

Race discrimination

Recommended Citation