Justice Department opens civil-rights probe into Baltimore City Health Department employment and training practices

Federal civil-rights review focuses on alleged workplace segregation and discriminatory training practices

The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil-rights investigation into the Baltimore City Health Department, placing the city’s public health agency under federal scrutiny over alleged illegal employment practices. The inquiry, announced Wednesday, centers on whether the department’s workplace policies or practices discriminate against employees or applicants, including through actions that limit, segregate, or classify employees based on race, color, or national origin.

The investigation was initiated by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and communicated to city leadership in a letter addressed to Mayor Brandon M. Scott. The letter identifies concerns tied to employee training and workplace conditions and references reports alleging that employees were separated into training groups based on race and national origin. Federal officials stated that separating employees in that way may violate federal law governing equal employment opportunity.

The Justice Department indicated that senior officials will seek discussions with city leaders as the inquiry proceeds. The department has not publicly disclosed a timetable, whether it has issued document requests, or whether the inquiry arose from a formal complaint, a referral, or other information reviewed by federal officials.

What the federal investigation can examine

The probe is an administrative civil-rights matter that can include review of policies, training materials, workplace communications, employee classifications, and the circumstances surrounding allegations of differential treatment. The Justice Department can also interview witnesses and request information from the city as it assesses whether unlawful discrimination occurred.

Investigations of this type do not themselves establish wrongdoing. Outcomes can range from a finding of no violation to negotiated corrective actions, voluntary compliance agreements, or litigation if federal officials conclude violations occurred and cannot be resolved.

Local context: oversight concerns have surfaced in prior audits

The federal employment inquiry comes as the health department has faced separate scrutiny in recent years over administrative controls. City and independent audits have previously raised concerns about documentation and oversight related to grant spending and grant subrecipient monitoring. Those issues were presented publicly to city boards and were described as repeat findings in audit reporting for multiple fiscal years.

Those audit matters are distinct from the Justice Department’s civil-rights investigation. Still, they underscore the stakes for an agency that relies heavily on external funding streams to support programs spanning disease prevention, treatment access, and community health initiatives.

Key points known as of Feb. 4, 2026

• The Justice Department opened an investigation into the Baltimore City Health Department’s employment practices.
• The inquiry focuses on potential discrimination involving race, color, and national origin, including allegations connected to training practices.
• Federal officials said they plan to engage city leaders as the investigation moves forward.

If the investigation advances, Baltimore may be asked to produce records tied to training, job assignments, and workplace policies, and to explain how decisions were made and implemented.

City officials have not publicly detailed how the health department will respond or what internal reviews, if any, are underway. The next steps are expected to include federal outreach to Baltimore leadership and information-gathering that will shape whether the case is resolved through voluntary changes or proceeds to formal enforcement.