Top House Democrats have called on Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice to halt any plans to eliminate the Community Relations Service (CRS), a civil rights-era office established under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Known as “America’s peacemaker,” the CRS works to prevent and resolve racial and ethnic tensions, conflicts, and civil disorders across the United States. In a letter sent Wednesday, more than two dozen Democrats, including Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, emphasized the office’s role in maintaining racial stability and protecting communities, particularly in the wake of high-profile attacks and city unrest.
An internal Justice Department memo reviewed last month indicated that Trump-era appointees are again considering shuttering the CRS—an office previously targeted for budget cuts and staffing reductions during the former administration. Although the CRS lacks prosecutorial or law enforcement powers, it has played a key role in crisis mediation during pivotal national events, including tensions in Akron, Ohio in 2022 and in Minneapolis during the trial of Derek Chauvin. The agency’s confidential and free services are made available to communities that request assistance.
Former CRS regional director Ron Wakabayashi warned that dissolving the office would risk increased national unrest, lawsuits, and social upheaval. “We would find and stop brush fires, before they became forest fires,” Wakabayashi said. The Justice Department has not yet responded to CBS News’ request for comment regarding the future of the Community Relations Service.
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