The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools, accusing the district of using unfair hiring and layoff practices that benefit Black teachers over others. Federal officials argue that the district and its teachers’ union have created policies that prioritize “underrepresented populations” when hiring, transferring, or determining layoffs, which they say violates federal civil rights laws.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said the district’s approach amounts to discrimination and stressed that public schools across the country should provide equal opportunity based on merit rather than race. The Justice Department claims the school system aims to increase minority staff to about 40 percent by 2026, with more than half of new hires being people of color. Officials argue that the agreement between the district and the teachers’ union sorts teachers by race when deciding who keeps their job during staffing cuts or who gets priority in future openings.
The DOJ also claims that an outside group called “Black Men Teach Fellows” receives special employment benefits that are unfair to other teachers. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said that employers cannot offer better working conditions or benefits based on race or sex, and the department plans to seek a court order to block Minneapolis Public Schools from including such practices in future labor agreements.
The school district declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying it does not speak on ongoing litigation. The teachers’ union has also been contacted for a response.
The legal action comes as the Trump administration continues to target issues in Minnesota, a state seen as leaning toward Democratic politics. Federal and state officials have recently raised concerns about large-scale fraud in Minnesota’s welfare programs, particularly those connected to organizations serving Somali-American communities. According to prosecutors, around $300 million was stolen from a single federal meals program, and the total amount taken across various schemes may exceed $1 billion. More than 50 people have been convicted so far, with many others still facing charges.
Investigators say some of the stolen money was sent to Somalia or used to purchase property in East Africa. These findings have drawn national attention and raised questions about oversight in Minnesota’s welfare programs, as well as how the funds were able to leave the country. A report from the conservative City Journal argued that millions of dollars were moved through traditional money-transfer systems known as hawala, and claimed that some funds may have reached extremist groups in Somalia. Following these concerns, the U.S. Treasury Department opened an investigation on December 1 to determine whether American taxpayer money was improperly funneled to terrorist organizations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the inquiry aims to understand whether weak oversight under the previous administration and current state leadership contributed to federal dollars being misused. These developments have intensified political tensions in the state.
Former President Donald Trump has added to the controversy with harsh remarks directed at Somali immigrants, accusing some of taking advantage of state programs. His comments sparked backlash, including from Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born member of Congress who represents Minneapolis. She criticized Trump’s statements as xenophobic and argued that her community is being unfairly blamed for the actions of individuals involved in fraud cases. Omar emphasized that most Somali-Americans are hardworking people who contribute positively to Minnesota.
The lawsuit against Minneapolis Public Schools is now part of a broader national debate about diversity programs, education policy, and the limits of affirmative action. How the case unfolds could influence how school districts across the country approach hiring and diversity in the future.
