Justice Department Ends Minneapolis Police Consent Decree, State Agreement Remains

The Department of Justice under the Trump administration filed a motion to dismiss the federal consent decree overseeing Minneapolis Police reforms that followed George Floyd's death, arguing that federal micromanagement of local police should be rare. Despite this, the state's court agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights remains in effect, requiring ongoing policy changes to address race-based policing. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara emphasized that the city will continue reform efforts regardless of federal decisions, highlighting progress made under the state consent decree and ongoing cooperation with community members and law enforcement partners. Mayor Jacob Frey criticized the federal move as politically motivated and reaffirmed commitment to police reform. The DOJ also retracted findings of investigations into other police departments, marking a significant shift from the Biden administration's approach, which had aggressively pursued federal oversight to address civil rights violations in policing. State officials acknowledge that while foundational work has been done, substantial progress remains necessary to fully meet reform goals.