The U.S. Department of Justice has wrapped up a compliance review involving Minnesota after the state's health agency shut down a grant program that awarded funding based on applicants' race, color, and national origin.
The Justice Department said the review was conducted under Title VI, the anti-discrimination provision of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The agency had opened the review to examine the Capacity Strengthening Initiative, a grant program administered by the Minnesota Department of Health.
According to the Justice Department, the Capacity Strengthening Initiative screened applicants using racial and ethnic criteria, along with national origin, to decide who received money. The department said the Minnesota Department of Health chose to resolve the matter voluntarily by discontinuing the program entirely.
Because the grant program was terminated, the Justice Department said it closed the review. The Minnesota Department of Health's decision to end the Capacity Strengthening Initiative brought the Title VI compliance process to a close.