In early February, DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice was terminated, and the five civil servants working in the office were reportedly put on administrative leave. On Feb. 5, 2025 the Attorney General issued a memorandum rescinding the agency’s May 2022 comprehensive environmental justice enforcement strategy. The related annual reports are no longer available on DOJ’s website (see below for permalinked resources).
Background
On May 5, 2022, DOJ announced the launch of the first-ever Office of Environmental Justice within the Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), which “support[ed] [EJ] investigations and litigation and facilitate[d] outreach by [DOJ] to communities with environmental justice concerns.” On the same day, the agency released its “comprehensive environmental justice enforcement strategy,” developed in partnership with the EPA and pursuant to President Biden’s Executive Order 14008. The strategy was issued to guide DOJ’s litigations, investigators, and the actions of U.S. Attorneys nationwide in enforcing federal environmental laws.
Consistent with that strategy, U.S. Attorney Offices appointed Environmental Justice coordinators to address environmental justice concerns brought to the offices. Strategies varied from office to office. For example:
- On Nov. 2, 2022, The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky appointed Environmental Justice Coordinators to address environmental justice concerns brought to the office.
- On Oct. 12, 2022, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee implemented new public reporting procedures for environmental violations and issues relating to environmental justice.
- On Oct. 4, 2022, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio established a new environmental justice initiative to enforce environmental laws and prosecute violations leading to discriminatory environmental and health impacts.
- On Jun. 24, 2021, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jackquelyn Kasulis, announced the creation of an Environmental Justice Team in the Office’s Civil Division to address environmental hazards in overburdened communities.
DOJ’s Office of EJ released its first-ever Comprehensive EJ Enforcement Strategy Annual Report, Oct. 13, 2023. The report detailed actions across the DOJ to address EJ concerns and engage communities overburdened by pollution. It included enforcement actions undertaken by the Civil Division, Civil Rights Division, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
The Office released the Second Annual Comprehensive EJ Enforcement Strategy Report on Dec. 1, 2024.