Justice department officials have asked civil rights division attorneys to reconsider their decision to leave the department in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign that the agency may have been caught off-guard by the wave of personnel leaving.
Officials have also asked attorneys, including career managers, who were involuntarily detailed to low-level offices last month, if they would consider returning to their sections to handle civil rights work, the people said. The attorneys were removed in late April in what was widely understood as an effort to force them to accept a paid offer to leave the department.
Leadership had also encouraged employees to accept the paid offer to leave. As a 28 April deadline approached for accepting the paid leave offer, Michael Gates, a political appointee in the civil rights division, told section chiefs there would be a “tightening of the belt” moving forward, a person familiar with the matter said.
More than 250 civil rights division attorneys have left since January or are planning to leave, an approximate 70% reduction in the division’s personnel.
It’s unclear how many attorneys were asked to stay and how many, if any, accepted. The Guardian has confirmed that the request was made at least of attorneys in the educational opportunities section, which enforces anti-discrimination law in schools. Many of the Trump administration’s priorities, including challenging DEI programs, investigating allegations of anti-semitism on campuses, and limiting the rights of transgender people fall under the purview of the section.
Also uncertain is how many lawyers were asked to consider returning to their sections, but some have accepted and returned, according to the people familiar, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
An email also went out on Monday asking attorneys in the housing and civil enforcement section to volunteer in the sections enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws in voting and employment, according a person who had seen the message and described it to the Guardian. If not enough people volunteer, the email said three people would be assigned….