Federal Investigation Launched over California EPA's Employment Procedures by Trump Administration's Department of Justice
The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, following concerns about potential discriminatory hiring practices within the agency.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who now oversees the Justice Department's civil rights division, has written a notice to California EPA Secretary Yana Garcia outlining the investigation. The focus of the investigation is whether CalEPA's efforts to advance racial equity, as outlined in their "Practices to Advance Racial Equity in Workforce Planning," may have violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The investigation has also highlighted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its efforts to "advance race-based decision-making within the agency."
Wade Crowfoot, who serves as California's Secretary of Natural Resources and the current leader of the California Environmental Protection Agency, has been involved in the state's environmental leadership but has not been directly implicated in the investigation.
Harmeet Dhillon, a former California Republican Party official, has been central to the state's culture-war battles. Spokespeople for CalEPA and CARB did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday morning.
The investigation comes at a time when issues of racial equity and discrimination are at the forefront of national conversation. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the California Environmental Protection Agency and its efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in its workforce.
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