The City of Chicago and the City of Saint Paul have filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), challenging new conditions placed on a $6.25 million grant from the DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program. The suit, lodged in the Northern District of Illinois, seeks to prevent enforcement of requirements that cities certify they do not operate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs deemed unlawful by DOJ and do not limit cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement.
“Chicago will not be intimidated into abandoning our values or compromising our safety,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Putting the safety of Chicagoans in jeopardy in pursuit of political ends is simply reprehensible. Community policing is fundamental to building a safer city and upholding diversity is an essential part of who we are as a city. We will not back down from that commitment, and we will fight to ensure that we receive every single dollar that is entitled to Chicago. My administration will continue to hold the Trump administration accountable for their attempts to withhold vital public safety resources for Chicagoans.”
According to city officials, the new DOJ conditions require recipients to certify that no grant funds support DEI-related programs considered discriminatory by federal authorities and mandate compliance with executive orders and immigration directives. Officials argue these requirements were not authorized by Congress and connect public safety funding to political objectives.
“Chicago and Saint Paul filed this complaint to enjoin DOJ from imposing unlawful conditions that keep our cities safe,” said Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry. “Congress appropriated these funds to strengthen community policing by enhancing cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. Our cities have long relied on COPS Grants to support vital public safety functions.”
The COPS Hiring Program funds full-time law enforcement positions designed around local community policing strategies. Since 2009, Chicago has used this grant for recruiting and training officers focused on building trust within neighborhoods across the city; this year’s award would fund about 50 new hires.
The lawsuit claims DOJ’s actions violate several legal principles including the Spending Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Separation of Powers doctrine, and Administrative Procedure Act, alleging also that executive authority was exceeded when adding these conditions.
Chicago and Saint Paul are seeking a court order declaring these grant restrictions illegal, barring their enforcement, and voiding them.
The Johnson administration has previously led or participated in over 40 legal actions against policies under former President Donald Trump intended to restrict federal funding for Chicago.