US civil rights groups sue to block closure of race-relations office [View all]
Source: Reuters
October 24, 2025 4:54 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago
WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Civil rights advocacy groups on Friday asked a federal judge to block the U.S. Justice Department from shuttering a 1960s-era office that was tasked with quelling racial and ethnic tensions in communities across America.
The lawsuit takes aim at Attorney General Pam Bondi's recent decision to formally shut down the Community Relations Service (CRS), an institution created under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as part of a sweeping reorganization that represents the largest reshuffling at the Justice Department in two decades.
Known as "America's Peacemaker," the Community Relations Service worked to prevent violence and reduce conflicts. The Justice Department declined to comment.
Earlier this month, the Justice Department told Reuters that the closure of CRS, along with several other offices, would save $11 million and make the U.S. government more efficient.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-civil-rights-groups-sue-block-closure-race-relations-office-2025-10-24/
Link to SUIT (PDF viewer) - https://www.bloomberglaw.com/public/desktop/document/EthicalSocietyofPoliceetalDocketNo125cv13115DMassOct242025CourtDo?doc_id=X7OHKROFV3396HQ37METPQITBVV
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