The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has begun a significant reorientation of its Civil Rights Division, shifting resources and enforcement priorities toward investigating claims of so-called “reverse discrimination” against white Americans, according to reporting by CBS News.
The change marks a departure from the division’s historic focus on protecting racial minorities and other historically marginalized groups from discrimination in education, employment, housing and voting — a mission it has pursued since its creation during the civil rights era of the mid-1960s.
CBS News reports that since President Trump returned to office, the Justice Department has increasingly devoted staff time and investigative authority to allegations that diversity-driven hiring and admissions practices unlawfully disadvantage majority groups. The administration’s approach aligns with the president’s long-stated view that civil rights protections developed in the 1960s have, in some cases, resulted in unfair treatment of white Americans.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, President Trump was asked whether civil rights protections ultimately led to discrimination against white men. “Well, I think that a lot of people were very badly treated,” Trump said, adding that white individuals who were otherwise qualified had been excluded from universities and colleges.
Investigations Target State Diversity Policies
According to CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane, the shift has already translated into federal scrutiny of state governments accused of violating civil rights laws by pursuing diversity-oriented hiring practices. The Justice Department has opened investigations into states including Minnesota and Rhode Island, examining whether efforts to ensure more diverse public workforces amount to unlawful discrimination against white applicants.
Civil rights advocates argue that such investigations reflect a controversial legal theory. Several organizations and former Justice Department officials told CBS News that the concept of “reverse discrimination” lacks grounding in civil rights law as it has traditionally been interpreted by courts and enforced by the federal government.
The NAACP and other advocacy groups have warned that elevating reverse discrimination claims risks undermining decades of jurisprudence designed to address systemic inequities. They argue that treating diversity initiatives as presumptively suspect reframes civil rights enforcement in a way that benefits majority groups rather than protecting those historically excluded from equal opportunity.
Internal Fallout at the Civil Rights Division
The policy shift appears to be having a profound internal impact on the Justice Department itself. Former DOJ officials told CBS News that morale within the Civil Rights Division has deteriorated sharply, with large numbers of career attorneys departing.
According to figures cited in the report, approximately 75 percent of the division’s staff have exited during the first year of President Trump’s second term. Former officials say the exodus could continue if the department maintains its emphasis on reverse discrimination claims at the expense of traditional civil rights enforcement.
The Civil Rights Division was established to enforce landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. For decades, its mandate has centered on combating racial discrimination, protecting voting access, addressing police misconduct and enforcing equal opportunity laws.
Critics of the administration’s approach argue that prioritizing reverse discrimination represents a fundamental redefinition of that mandate. Supporters counter that civil rights laws are race-neutral and must be enforced equally, regardless of whether alleged victims belong to minority or majority groups.
Broader Legal Implications
Legal analysts note that the Justice Department’s enforcement priorities can have far-reaching consequences, shaping not only federal litigation but also how state governments, universities and private employers structure diversity and inclusion policies. While courts ultimately determine the legality of such programs, DOJ investigations alone can prompt policy changes and chill affirmative diversity efforts.
As the Trump administration continues to reshape the Justice Department, civil rights enforcement is emerging as a central legal battleground — one that may redefine how federal law interprets equality, discrimination and the legacy of the civil rights movement.
