Back in October 2024, the former President Joe Biden-led Justice Department sued Maryland State Police for requiring all trooper candidates to pass a written and physical fitness test — which claimed, "had the effect of disqualifying Black and female applicants from the hiring process at significantly disproportionate rates."
Maryland later agreed to settle the lawsuit by adopting new, non-discriminatory, written and physical fitness tests. MSP also committed to hire 25 applicants who were previously turned down, while also promising them $2.75 million in back pay.
But President Donald Trump's Department of Justice is taking a new approach, targeting Biden-area DEI policies.
On February 26, 2025, Trump-appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive dismissing the lawsuit.
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“American communities deserve firefighters and police officers to be chosen for their skill and dedication to public safety — not to meet DEI quotas,” said Bondi. "Despite no evidence of intentional discrimination — only statistical disparities — the prior administration branded the aptitude tests at issue in these cases as discriminatory in an effort to advance a DEI agenda. And it sought to coerce cities into conducting DEI-based hiring in response and spending millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for payouts to previous applicants who had scored lower on the tests, regardless of qualifications."
A federal judge was scheduled to approve the settlement during a March 10 hearing, which would have cleared the way for payouts.
Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., issued the following statement doubling down on the changes, including to physical fitness and written tests:
"Regardless of the ruling on the Consent Decree, MDSP has and will remain committed to enhancing recruitment and hiring practices to ensure fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity for all applicants. Our dedication to fostering a professional and inclusive workforce remains steadfast, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability. Moving forward, MDSP will continue developing cutting-edge, up-to-date hiring selection processes, including a new written test and physical agility test, to further these efforts as we work to recruit qualified applicants to fulfill the mission of the Department."
This story was originally published by Ryan Dickstein with the Scripps News Group.
