The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the city of Austin to see if it engaged in discriminatory employment practices based on race, sex, color and national origin.
Discrimination based on these characteristics is a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced the investigation on Thursday and said it will focus on the city’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, Equity Division. The department aims to “work across all City departments … to build capacity and leadership using a racial equity lens,” according to its website.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in a statement that the Justice Department will “not tolerate discriminatory race-based employment practices and DEI policies.”
“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,” Dhillon said.
It is not clear what led to the investigation. The Department of Justice’s notice sent to Mayor Kirk Watson cites several phrases on the city’s website that the department said the investigation is based on. But the Justice Department did not say this was a violation of Title VII or provide specific examples of violations.
The DOJ said it did not have any further comment. Austin city officials also could not confirm what prompted the investigation.
This is not the first time the DOJ has targeted institutions over employment practices. Earlier this summer, the department launched a similar investigation into the University of California System. Another investigation was opened in June against the State of Rhode Island.
All of this comes after the Trump administration announced it would end DEI-focused programs, policies and hiring practices in January. DEI initiatives are meant to address discriminatory practices, gender pay gaps and help recruit underrepresented demographic groups to create equitable workplaces and places of education.
The policy change has forced public institutions, including colleges and universities, and federal, state and local entities to roll back their DEI initiatives.
Austin’s Equity and Inclusion Office was created in 2024 after the city merged the Office of Civil Rights with the Equity Office. Its focus is to enforce civil rights laws across the city, including in hiring, housing and tenant’s right efforts.
In a statement, city of Austin officials said it is aware of the investigation, and “we are confident that the City is in full compliance with the law.”
Mayor Kirk Watson reiterated that sentiment in a post on X.
“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,” Watson said. “They make Austin a better place to live.”
This story has been updated.