MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — The U.S. Department of Justice has formally taken legal action against Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), alleging that the district’s union contract illegally favors teachers based on race and sex under the guise of diversity goals.
Filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the civil rights lawsuit targets specific provisions within the district’s collective bargaining agreement. Federal prosecutors argue the contract creates a tiered system that shields teachers from “underrepresented populations” during involuntary layoffs and reassignments, prioritizing them over other staff members regardless of tenure or performance.
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The complaint specifically highlights the district’s relationship with a third-party organization known as “Black Men Teach Fellows.” According to the DOJ, the school system awards members of this group employment benefits, terms, and conditions that are explicitly unavailable to female teachers or non-Black male teachers.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a sharp rebuke of the policies, framing the lawsuit as a defense of meritocracy.
“Discrimination is unacceptable in all forms, especially when it comes to hiring decisions,” Bondi said. “Our public education system in Minnesota and across the country must be a bastion of merit and equal opportunity — not DEI.”
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Court documents cite explicit demographic quotas set by the district. The complaint notes that MPS is seeking to increase “BIPOC staffing” to at least 40% by 2026. To hit that target, the district allegedly established a goal where 54.3% of all new teacher hires by the 2026–2027 school year must identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division stated that these classifications violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Employers may not provide more favorable terms and conditions of employment based on an employee’s race and sex,” Dhillon said, vowing that the agency will “vigorously pursue” employers who limit opportunities based on national origin, color, or gender.
The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to declare that MPS is discriminating against staff in violation of federal law. They are seeking a permanent injunction that would stop the district from implementing these specific provisions and prevent similar race-based clauses from appearing in future labor contracts.
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