In January 2026, a wave of resignations swept the U.S. Department of Justice following its handling of the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE officer. At least four senior leaders from the Civil Rights Division unit responsible for investigating police killings resigned in protest after the department declined to open a federal investigation into the shooting. In Minnesota, six federal prosecutors also left their posts, citing concerns over political interference, the decision not to investigate the officer, and reported pressure to scrutinize the victim instead.
The resignations are widely viewed as unprecedented and have raised alarm about the erosion of institutional independence within the Justice Department. Investigative reporters note that these departures are part of a broader pattern of experienced prosecutors and law enforcement officials leaving the department since early 2025, contributing to what many describe as a severe loss of expertise. Critics warn that this growing “brain drain” could have lasting consequences for civil rights enforcement and public safety in the United States.