Justice Department Sues Minnesota Over Affirmative Action in State Government

The lawsuit alleged that Minnesota’s policies violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and requested an extraordinary three-judge panel to hear the case.

People gather during a vigil for deceased protester Renee Good on the steps of the state capitol building in St. Paul, Minn., on Jan. 9, 2026. Earlier this week a federal agent fatally shot Good in her car during an incident in south Minneapolis. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

The Justice Department sued the State of Minnesota on Jan. 14 over an affirmative action program that allegedly discriminates against state employees on the basis of sex and race.

The lawsuit argued that Minnesota violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by imposing “a statewide affirmative action program for state civil service.” It sought a permanent injunction barring those practices, as well as relief to employees the department alleged were discriminated against.