Trump Justice Dept. reversing Obama-era positions on discrimination policies
By Joan Biskupic, CNN legal analyst & Supreme Court biographer
Updated 6:05 AM ET, Mon February 4, 2019
Washington (CNN)Recent Trump administration moves on civil rights bring into sharper focus its efforts to reverse the Obama era and curtail decades-old laws designed to shield blacks, Latinos and other racial minorities from discrimination.
Last week, the Justice Department retreated from a prior position and said Texas' record of voter discrimination did not justify requiring prior approval for any new redistricting maps. The Obama administration had argued that a provision of the Voting Rights Act empowering judges to intervene should cover Texas, which has been mired in minority-voter disputes for years.
The administration is also apparently considering retrenchment against policies that appear neutral but have the effect of discriminating against minorities. In December, a federal commission convened by the White House recommended the rescission of Obama policy intended to ensure that African-American students are not disproportionately targeted under school discipline rules.
The Washington Post reported in January that the administration is considering a "far-reaching" curtailment of such regulations against practices that – although not intentionally discriminatory – have a "disparate impact" on minorities, whether at schools, on the job, or in the pursuit of housing. (The Justice Department would not comment on the report.)
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/04/politics/trump-justice-department-race/index.html