Exclusive: DOJ's Police Misconduct Unit Gutted, Investigations Curtailed Under New Priorities
By Andrew Goudsward
WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department unit tasked with investigating and prosecuting civil rights violations by law enforcement officers has seen its staffing plunge and its mandate narrowed, according to current and former officials, signaling a significant shift in federal oversight of police conduct.
The Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, which traditionally leads federal reviews of potential police misconduct nationwide, now operates with a fraction of its former personnel. Sources familiar with the unit's work say its capacity to pursue complex excessive force investigations has been sharply curtailed under new directives from the Trump administration.
Interviews with seven former section lawyers reveal a stark depletion of resources. The number of frontline trial attorneys has dropped from approximately 40 before President Trump took office to no more than 13, according to three sources with knowledge of the staffing. Only two supervisors remain in roles that previously were held by about seven.
This drawdown coincides with internal guidance, described by three former Justice Department lawyers, instructing staff to limit new investigations of law enforcement to only the most "egregious" circumstances, such as deaths in custody or sexual assault. In most instances, state and local authorities are now expected to take the lead.
The staffing crisis and policy shift have cast doubt on the unit's ability to conduct thorough probes into recent incidents, including the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis last month. While the DOJ has announced an investigation into Pretti's killing, it has declined to open one into Good's death.
"We evaluate each matter based on the merits without prejudice. Nothing within our statutory purview is off limits," said Justice Department spokesperson Natalie Baldassarre. She acknowledged the section's nationwide scope "inherently requires prioritization of resources" but did not dispute that law enforcement cases had been scaled back. Baldassarre said the unit now has over 25 lawyers in combined roles and expects to hire more.
The impact is visible in the data. Federal prosecutions under the primary civil rights statute used in excessive-force cases fell about 36% last year to 54—the lowest number since 2020, a Reuters analysis of federal court records shows.
Former prosecutors describe an exodus of veteran attorneys, driven by what some perceived as a politicized approach to enforcement. "The idea of a system where every vulnerable group is not protected equally by the rule of law is not a system I can be a part of from the inside," said Laura-Kate Bernstein, a former trial attorney who left in May.
Despite the administration's stated priorities on hate crimes, attorneys say the departures have weakened capacity across the board, even in areas like antisemitic and anti-Christian violence.
The unit's changing focus is illustrated by its current docket. Court records show civil rights prosecutors are handling the case against former CNN anchor Don Lemon and eight others accused of disrupting a Minnesota church service—a case stemming from protests against immigration enforcement.
Traditionally, lawyers from this section would be deployed within days of a high-profile police killing. The absence of a robust federal response to incidents like the Minneapolis shootings marks a departure from past practice.
"It’s so anomalous," said Samantha Trepel, a former top DOJ civil rights official. "In situations like this, a criminal civil rights investigation is the most well-trodden path to accountability."
Voices & Reaction:
Marcus Johnson, Civil Rights Attorney, Baltimore: "This isn't just bureaucratic shuffling. It's a deliberate dismantling of a crucial check on police power. When the federal government steps back, the message to local departments is that oversight is optional."
Janice Powell, Police Union Representative, Ohio: "Finally, we're seeing a return to common sense. These federal investigations were often redundant and politically motivated. Local agencies are best positioned to review their own officers' conduct."
David Chen, Policy Analyst, The Brennan Center for Justice: "The staffing drop is alarming, but the formal policy shift to only investigate 'egregious' cases is the real story. It creates a de facto immunity for all but the most extreme misconduct, undermining decades of progress."
Rebecca Vance, Community Organizer, Minneapolis: "It's a slap in the face to every family who's lost someone. They're telling us our lives don't matter unless the killing is 'egregious' enough? This administration is sending a clear signal: police can act with impunity."
(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; Additional reporting by Brad Heath; Editing by Craig Timberg and Alistair Bell)