Donald Trump Shuts Down Federal Police Misconduct Database, Sparking Accountability Concerns

“…the Biden executive order establishing this database was filled with woke, anti-police rhetoric that undermines public safety,” read a White House statement.

President Donald Trump has terminated a national database that recorded federal law enforcement misconduct and prevented officers with problematic histories from quietly transferring between agencies.

The U.S. Department of Justice verified the removal of the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD) in an official statement.

“User agencies can no longer query or add data to the NLEAD,” the statement declared. “The U.S. Department of Justice is shutting down the NLEAD in compliance with federal guidelines.”

NLEAD was the first database of its kind, though it was not open to the public. Law enforcement agencies could utilize it to determine whether an officer applying for a position had a record of misconduct, including excessive use of force.

Former President Joe Biden established NLEAD through an executive order in 2023. Many experts like Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, commended Biden on its creation.

“Law enforcement agencies will no longer be able to ignore records of misconduct when hiring officers, and bad actors won’t be able to escape accountability for their past actions,” said Nelson.

However, the Trump administration wants to do away with the agency arguing that it aligns with a “woke” and “anti-police” agenda.

“President Trump supports maintaining an appropriate balance between accountability and law enforcement’s ability to effectively combat crime and protect communities,” read a White House statement.

“But the Biden executive order establishing this database was filled with woke, anti-police rhetoric that undermines public safety, including calls for ‘equitable’ policing and addressing ‘systemic racism in our criminal justice system,’” the statement continued. “President Trump rescinded the order on his first day in office because he is committed to ensuring our courageous law enforcement officers have the necessary resources to fight crime.”

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