DOJ Launches Investigation into Baltimore Health Department's Racially Segregated Meetings

Civil rights leaders praise the probe into the agency's 'white caucus' and 'people of color caucus' staff gatherings.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has launched an investigation into the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) over concerns about racially segregated equity meetings. The DOJ is looking into whether BCHD violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by hosting monthly staff meetings separated by race, which it labeled as its 'white caucus' and 'people of color caucus'. Civil rights leaders have praised the DOJ investigation, stating that state agencies should not separate employees by race.

Why it matters

The revelations about BCHD's racially segregated meetings have raised concerns about discrimination and the creation of a racially hostile work environment. The DOJ investigation will aim to determine the motives behind these practices and whether they violate federal civil rights laws.

The details

According to internal emails obtained by Spotlight on Maryland, BCHD paid a Louisiana-based consulting firm $50,000 from 2022 to 2024 to lead annual racial equity training, which was followed by the monthly caucus meetings observed by paid consultants. BCHD defined its 'white caucus' as a 'group of white people who meet for the purpose of building analysis, awareness, stamina, and strategy to challenge systemic racism and internalized white supremacy'.

  • The DOJ launched its investigation into BCHD on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.
  • The 'white caucus' and 'people of color caucus' meetings were held at BCHD through at least June 2025.

The players

Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD)

The local government agency in Baltimore that hosted the racially segregated staff meetings.

Brandon Scott

The mayor of Baltimore City, who was informed by the DOJ of the investigation into BCHD.

Cleveland Horton

The executive director of the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, the state's enforcement agency for civil rights violations.

Chad Dion Lassiter

The executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the state's top civil rights enforcement agency.

Harmeet Dhillon

The assistant attorney general in the DOJ Civil Rights Division, who criticized BCHD's racially segregated meetings as 'discriminatory, illegal, and un-American'.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's always helpful to have a third party taking a look at the particular issue to gain the facts, learn the facts, do an investigation, to figure out what happened.”

— Cleveland Horton, Executive Director, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (Spotlight on Maryland)

“The DOJ should be commended for beginning an investigation, and we'll see what the outcome is. We would advise that you don't do trainings where you caucus people along race, ethnicity, and indices like that because it can be divisive.”

— Chad Dion Lassiter, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (Spotlight on Maryland)

“Separating employees into training groups based on their race is discriminatory, illegal, and un-American. Such practices are divisive and foster a racially hostile work environment. Racial segregation of employees is deeply offensive to the American guarantee of equal rights under the law, and it will not be tolerated.”

— Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ Civil Rights Division (DOJ Press Release)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the Baltimore City Health Department to continue the racially segregated staff meetings while the DOJ investigation is ongoing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving true racial equity and inclusion, even within government agencies tasked with promoting public health. The DOJ investigation will shed light on whether BCHD's approach to diversity training crossed legal and ethical lines, and serve as a warning to other organizations against divisive practices that undermine workplace unity.