​​​​​​​HOUSTON, United States

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the state of Minnesota, challenging its affirmative action plans, more commonly known as Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies.

The suit marks the latest action taken by the Trump administration against the state amid an escalating immigration crackdown that has prompted thousands of demonstrators to take to the streets, particularly in the largest city of Minneapolis.

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division announced that the lawsuit is challenging Minnesota's requirement that all state agencies implement sex- and race-based affirmative action plans and consider "affirmative action goals on all staffing and personnel decisions."

The state program directs agencies to engage in employment practices that "balance" the sex and race composition of its workforce with the civilian labor force.

"Making hiring decisions based on immutable characteristics like race and sex is simple discrimination, and the Trump Administration has no tolerance for such DEI policies," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon echoed that sentiment.

"For far too long, courts have allowed employers to discriminate based on race and sex when it is packaged as 'affirmative action,'" said Dhillon. "The Supreme Court put an end to using race as a factor in college admissions through its Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision. This case is the next logical step."

"Title VII protects all people from race and sex discrimination in employment," he said. "There is no exception that allows discrimination against employees who aren’t considered 'underrepresented.'"

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota and alleges that the state's affirmative action mandate discriminates against, limits, and classifies employees and prospective employees on the basis of race and sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"Because staffing is a zero-sum game, when Minnesota gives preferences to employees or prospective employees on the basis of their race, color, national origin, and sex, it inevitably and necessarily discriminates against other employees or prospective employees because of their race, color, national origin, and sex," said the lawsuit.

Bondi certified the case as a matter of general public importance. According to DOJ officials, the designation invokes a provision of Title VII that entitles the US to an expedited review by a three-judge district court and direct appeals to the United States Supreme Court."