The Justice Department on Monday launched a civil rights investigation into whether Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration engaged in racial discrimination by prioritizing black candidates for top city roles.

The investigation, authorized by Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon, will look into whether Johnson’s public remarks and staffing decisions amount to a “pattern or practice” of discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to a letter sent Monday to his office.