Justice Department launches investigation into Des Moines Public Schools' employment practices
Des Moines Public Schools is under investigation by the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division regarding the district's employment practices.
Updated: 9:31 PM CDT Sep 30, 2025
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Editor's note: The Des Moines Board of Education held a special meeting Tuesday, Sept. 30, during which they voted to accept the resignation of Superintendent Ian Roberts.
Des Moines Public Schools is under investigation by the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division regarding the district's employment practices.
In a letter to the district dated Sept. 30, 2025, the Department of Justice says it is basing the investigation on "information that DMPS may be engaged in employment practices that discriminate against employees, job applicants, and training program participants based on race, color, and national origin in violation of Title VII."
In a news release, the DOJ mentioned "quotas" implemented by DMPS in an affirmative action plan.
"DEI initiatives and race-based hiring preferences in our schools violate federal anti-discrimination laws and undermine educational priorities," Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said in the news release. "School districts must cease these unlawful programs and restore merit-based employment practices for the benefit of both students and employees."
You can read the letter to DMPS here.
Chuck Grassley presses federal officials for answers on Ian Roberts' case
Video above: Attorney announces DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts' resignation
A district spokesperson provided this statement to KCCI Tuesday afternoon: “Des Moines Public Schools just received (communication) on this matter this afternoon from the U.S. Department of Justice. We are reviewing their letter and will respond to them accordingly.”
The news comes just days after the district's superintendent was arrested by federal immigration authorities. Dr. Ian Roberts submitted his resignation Tuesday.
KCCI reached out to Sen. Joni Ernst's office for comment on the new investigation into the district's employment practices. Her office provided this statement:
“We have laws for a reason, and it is unbelievable that an illegal alien was allowed to remain in the U.S. for years while holding a prominent position in the Des Moines school system, collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck, and shaping the minds of our children. We need answers on how and why this happened, so we can hold those responsible accountable. I’m thankful for the Trump administration’s work to enforce our laws and get answers for thousands of Iowa families.”
State Rep. Bill Gustoff (R-Des Moines), said he'll wait for the investigation's findings "before passing judgment" on DMPS.
"Whether it is about DMPS hiring practices, the validity of Ian Roberts’ credentials, the possession of a firearm by an illegal alien in violation of federal immigration law and district policy, or any of the other questions circling about this entire unsettling situation, there is a lot we do not know, and it will require some serious investigation," he said. "I don’t know if DMPS District has engaged in unlawful discrimination, and I will await the findings of the Department of Justice once it concludes its investigation before passing judgment or making specific comments on it." |
