Washington, DC — Today, Rep. Lucy McBath, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, Rep. Summer Lee, Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight sent a letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to seek the dismissal of consent decrees with state and local police departments, a decision that effectively removes federal oversight of police departments accused of civil rights abuses and therefore opens the door for future violations in jurisdictions across the nation. While highlighting instances of severe, unconstitutional police misconduct, the Members demand the Department of Justice (DOJ) immediately halt its attacks on consent decrees, which are a necessary tool to ensure community safety.
“The Department of Justice (DOJ) regularly enters into consent decrees with local police departments accused of constitutional violations in an effort to oversee their conduct and prevent such violations in the future. These consent decrees establish legally binding parameters for police departments to follow to ensure that they act in accordance with the Constitution and remain accountable to the people in the communities they serve. We strongly urge DOJ to reverse its decision to back away from the use of consent decrees, and to reaffirm that no one—including law enforcement officers—is above the law,” wrote the Members.
Consent decrees typically involve nonintrusive measures such as better training, revising department handbooks and policies, and adopting the use of equipment like video cameras. Despite assertions to the contrary by DOJ, consent decrees have long been a commonly used judicial device and a workable investment in the safety of our communities for all.
“President Trump has stated on numerous occasions that he will restore ‘law and order’ to the nation. However, through its plans to halt and withdraw from existing consent decrees, the Trump Administration is giving a free pass to police departments with demonstrated histories of misconduct to continue with their flawed, dangerous, and often discriminatory tactics. The Administration’s actions demonstrate a willingness to allow rogue officers to operate without accountability, hinder the ability of officers to do their jobs of keeping our communities safe, and erode the protections our Constitution provides to all Americans,”concluded the Members.
In order to better understand DOJ’s actions and intentions concerning consent decrees, as well as to understand the impact of DOJ’s actions on community safety, the Members requested documents and information regarding its decision on consent decrees no later than June 12, 2025.
Click here to read the letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi.