Justice Department Disbands Historic ‘Peacemakers’ Office Amid U.S. Protest Surge
The Justice Department has scrapped its long-standing “Peacemakers” office at a time of growing protests in Minneapolis and Portland, and critics warn the move could leave communities without key tools to defuse tensions.
As demonstrations have grown in cities responding to controversial law-enforcement actions, the role of neutral federal mediators has come into focus and now they’re gone, prompting questions about how federal authorities will manage community trust.
According to CBS News, the Community Relations Service, formed in the civil rights era to send conciliators into conflict zones has been shuttered under the Trump administration, and many of the roughly 60 specialists who staffed it are being pushed out.
A 2026 Justice Department budget document shows the office’s staffing planned to drop from 56 to zero. The department says the duties will be absorbed by U.S. attorneys’ offices nationwide to “save money and improve efficiency.”
Still, the timing troubles advocates, as protests over federal law enforcement actions in Minneapolis and Portland intensify with no dedicated peacemaking unit on standby.
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“The Community Relations Service was designed to help de-escalate tensions like those we see in Minneapolis and Portland, and for decades it succeeded in that mission,” said Stacey Young, executive director of the Justice Connection.
Critics argue sidelining the office now could worsen mistrust between communities and law enforcement, leaving cities without experienced mediators during volatile moments.
A civil lawsuit has been filed by nearly a dozen civil rights groups aiming to stop the office’s closure, calling the cuts unlawful and disruptive to ongoing de-escalation work.
Congressional Democrats are pushing to restore funding in a new bill that would allocate $20 million to the Community Relations Service if approved.
As protests continue, observers will watch whether legislative action or legal challenges can revive the office’s functions.
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