DOJ investigating city of Austin for 'racially discriminatory employment practices'

DOJ investigation Austin's employment practices

The Department of Justice is now investigating the city of Austin for potentially ?racially discriminatory employment practices".

AUSTIN, Texas - The Department of Justice is now investigating the city of Austin for potentially "racially discriminatory employment practices."

The city, however, maintains it is in full compliance with the law.

What we know:

The DOJ launched the investigation on Sept. 18 through its Civil Rights Division.

The investigation is seeking to determine whether the city engages in "employment practices that discriminate based on race, sex, color, and national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended," according to the DOJ.

The DOJ also sent a notice letter to Mayor Kirk Watson, which noted specifically the city's Office of Equity and Inclusion's Equity Division.

The notice cites that the division "works across all City departments . . . to build capacity and leadership in working from a racial equity lens" on its website.

Read the letter below and here.

"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 Justice Department’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."

The city sent a statement saying in part, "We are confident that the city is in full compliance with the law."  

Mayor Kirk Watson added, "Our employment practices assure highly qualified public servants, who care deeply about our entire community and bring their unique characteristics to the jobs they do. "

The other side:

Dustin Rynders is the Legal Director at the Texas Civil Rights Project.

"I think what they're really doing is just signaling, we are going to investigate DEI all around the country," said Rynders.

He believes this comes from President Trump’s previous executive order opposing DEI.

Trump has previously said, "Radical DEI has dangerously tainted many of our critical businesses and influential institutions, including the federal government."

"The idea that we would disassemble programming to help understand one another. To make sure we treat each other with respect and dignity and equity in the workplace, which is all the DEI is meant to be, would be really shameful," said Rynders.

"What's important is for the city of Austin to look at their practices, and if they believe they're doing the right thing, they should fight to continue to do the right things. And not comply in advance," said Rynders.

FOX 7 Austin reached out to the Deputy Assistant Attorney General leading the investigation, but have not heard back.