In the days following the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota is condemning what she calls a political betrayal: the Trump administration’s recent decision to withdraw from the federal consent decree with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD).
The consent decree, established after a sweeping U.S. Department of Justice investigation, was intended to be a critical step toward addressing deep-seated civil rights violations within the city’s police force.
Protesters gather in Minneapolis to rally against George Floyd’s murder and for MPD reform, June 2020.Credit: Aria Binns-Zager/MSR
“I am deeply disturbed by the Trump administration’s decision to abandon the federal consent decree with the Minneapolis Police Department,” Smith said in a public statement. “This decree was based on the Justice Department’s own investigation, which found a pattern of unconstitutional and discriminatory policing practices that have hurt our community — especially Black and Native American people and people with mental illness — for decades.”
The DOJ report, released in 2023, concluded that Minneapolis police officers routinely used excessive force and disproportionately targeted Black individuals and other marginalized communities. The investigation began following Floyd’s death on May 25, 2020, when former officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds, killing him and igniting one of the largest protest movements in modern U.S. history.
Floyd’s murder became a catalyst for national conversations around police reform, racial injustice and public safety. In Minnesota, where Black residents make up only 7% of the population, they have historically accounted for more than 60% of victims in police shootings.
A 2020 report by the ACLU of Minnesota found that Black residents in Minneapolis were at least seven times more likely to be arrested than white residents for low-level offenses, such as loitering or disorderly conduct.
“It’s especially painful that this decision came just as the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder was being marked — the very tragedy that sparked this investigation and the urgent push for reform,” Smith added.
The senator has been vocal in demanding federal oversight and previously led calls for the civil rights investigation following Floyd’s death.
“Walking away from this agreement, after confirming the need for it, is unconscionable,” Smith said, highlighting the contradiction in acknowledging systemic abuse and then backing away from accountability mechanisms.
Timeline of key events
May 25, 2020: George Floyd is murdered by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
June 2, 2020: The Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) opens a civil rights investigation into the MPD.
April 2022: MDHR report finds MPD used force against Black individuals at 12 times the rate of white individuals.
June 2023: DOJ investigation confirms systemic civil rights violations.
January 2025: Minneapolis agrees to a federal consent decree with the DOJ.
May 2025: Trump administration announces withdrawal from the decree.
Despite the federal government’s reversal, Smith emphasized that the fight for justice is far from over. She praised local and state efforts that remain active, specifically referencing the consent decree secured by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
That agreement, enacted in 2022 following a separate state-level investigation, mandates reforms within the MPD ranging from de-escalation training to transparent discipline processes and meaningful community engagement.
“Thankfully, the city of Minneapolis and Minnesota state leaders continue to stand on the side of justice,” Smith said. “I’m grateful that the state-negotiated consent decree remains in place to continue working toward meaningful reform.”
The state investigation also uncovered a consistent pattern of racial discrimination in MPD’s traffic stops, searches and use-of-force incidents. Smith acknowledged that the department has made some progress since 2020, including a new leadership team, the implementation of body camera audits and the adoption of new training protocols. Still, she warned against assuming that justice has already been achieved.
“The Minneapolis Police Department has taken steps in the right direction and is committed to continuing that work even as the federal government walks away,” she said.
Consent decrees in the United States date back to the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which gave the DOJ authority to investigate and intervene in police departments showing patterns of misconduct. Such decrees have played a vital role in reforming departments in cities like Los Angeles, Ferguson and Baltimore. Many say removing federal oversight in Minneapolis now threatens to undo that progress.
For Smith, the issue goes beyond local governance — it represents a broader test of American democracy and equity.
“Every Minnesotan deserves to be safe in their homes and neighborhoods, and that safety must include freedom from unconstitutional and discriminatory policing,” she said. “This work isn’t finished yet, and we will keep holding ourselves accountable.”
As the anniversary of Floyd’s death was marked with vigils, town halls and art installations across Minneapolis, the tension between federal disengagement and local resolve has never been clearer.
The path to justice and public safety reform remains long. But in Minneapolis and beyond, the fight continues.
