The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that its Civil Rights Division is probing the California Environmental Protection Agency (CAL EPA) for what it called discriminatory hiring and promotion practices. At the center of the case is CAL EPA’s embrace of “racial equity” initiatives, particularly through the California Air Resources Board, which has adopted a sweeping “Racial Equity Framework.”

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Civil Rights Division, made it clear that race-based policies in public agencies will not be tolerated. “Race-based employment practices and policies in America’s local and state agencies violate equal treatment under the law,” Dhillon said. “Agencies that unlawfully use protected characteristics as a factor in employment and hiring risk serious legal consequences.”

The move is part of President Donald Trump’s broader war on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs nationwide. Since returning to the White House, Trump has vowed to dismantle DEI initiatives across government, schools, and even in the corporate sector. He has repeatedly argued that DEI programs institutionalize discrimination rather than eliminate it, rewarding identity politics instead of merit.

Attorney General Pam Bondi reinforced that stance on her first day in office, issuing instructions to strip DEI policies from the DOJ itself. Now the focus has turned toward state-level agencies like CAL EPA, where federal officials suspect DEI has been embedded into hiring and advancement systems for years.

The investigation comes at a time when California Democrats have leaned heavily into “equity” frameworks across multiple agencies, embedding race-conscious language into regulations and training. Critics say these frameworks amount to taxpayer-funded discrimination, while supporters argue they are necessary to level the playing field.

CAL EPA and its Air Resources Board have been at the forefront of California’s climate crusade, crafting rules on emissions and energy that critics say punish working families with higher costs while enriching green tech insiders. Now, federal investigators are suggesting the same ideological zeal that drove California’s climate agenda may have bled into its employment system.

The DOJ press release specifically highlighted “publicly available guidance documents” showing CAL EPA promoted policies that appear to use race and other protected characteristics as criteria in employment decisions. Federal officials argue this is unconstitutional and a violation of civil rights law.

A spokesperson for CAL EPA did not respond to requests for comment, but Democrats in California are already framing the probe as political. Progressive activists claim Trump is targeting California because of its left-wing leadership and climate policies. Yet the DOJ counters that its concern is not policy, but fairness under the law.

This investigation is far from isolated. Across the country, the Trump administration has been dismantling DEI bureaucracies built up under Presidents Obama and Biden. Universities have been warned about race-based admissions and hiring practices, federal contractors are under review for “equity” programs, and schools are being scrutinized for embedding DEI in curriculum.

For California, the stakes are high. CAL EPA is one of the most powerful agencies in the state, with enormous influence over energy, climate, and industry. If DOJ uncovers systemic discrimination in its hiring and retention policies, the consequences could be sweeping — including lawsuits, overturned regulations, and federal oversight.

The broader message is clear: Trump’s DOJ intends to make California the poster child of what happens when government agencies elevate “equity” over equal protection. In the process, Trump is delivering on his campaign promise to put DEI “into the ash heap of history.”

The outcome of this battle will resonate far beyond California. If DOJ succeeds in curbing race-based employment practices in one of the most liberal states, it could embolden further crackdowns nationwide — and mark a decisive turning point in America’s culture war over race, merit, and fairness.