John KerryJohn KerryKerry denies allegations from leaked Iran tapes OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court considers whether US should pay for Guam hazardous waste cleanup | EPA eyes reversal of Trump revocation of California vehicle emissions waiver | Kerry faces calls to step down over leaked Iran tapes Kerry faces calls to step down over leaked Iran tapes  MORE, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, is denying allegations that he discussed Israeli military operations with Iran’s foreign minister when he served as secretary of State under then-President Obama, calling the claims “unequivocally false.”

“This never happened – either when I was Secretary of State or since,” Kerry wrote on Twitter on Monday night.

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The leaked audio in question was recorded last month. In it, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says that Kerry informed him that Israel attacked Iran’s interests in Syria at least 200 times.

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Zarif made these comments during a conversation with economist Saeed Leylaz, according to The New York Times. The recording, however, was not meant to be published, which Zarif can be heard mentioning a number of times.

Zarif expressed astonishment at Kerry’s alleged disclosure, though he did not reveal when Kerry made it.

Kerry served as Obama’s secretary of State from 2013 to 2017.

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State Department spokesperson Ned Price would not comment on the contents of the audio but did seem to dismiss that Zarif’s astonishment was authentic.

“I would just make the broad point that if you go back and look at press reporting from the time, this certainly was not secret, and governments that were involved were speaking to this publicly, on the record,” Price said in response to a reporter’s question at a briefing on Monday.

In 2018, an Israeli official confirmed that Israel executed more than 200 attacks against Iranian targets in Syria over the previous two years, Reuters reported at the time, which was the first public disclosure of a secret campaign that was suspected to have been carried out by Israel.

A number of Republicans are now calling for Kerry’s resignation from his current post in the Biden administration. In a floor speech on Monday, Sen. Dan SullivanDaniel Scott SullivanKerry denies allegations from leaked Iran tapes OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court considers whether US should pay for Guam hazardous waste cleanup | EPA eyes reversal of Trump revocation of California vehicle emissions waiver | Kerry faces calls to step down over leaked Iran tapes Kerry faces calls to step down over leaked Iran tapes  MORE (R-Alaska) said Kerry “needs to go.”

The federal mask mandate for all transportation networks will be extended through September, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Friday.

The mask requirement is for travel on airplanes, in airports, on buses and on rail systems. It went into effect in February with an expiration date of May 11, which has now been moved to Sept. 13.

President BidenJoe BidenAmericans for Prosperity launches campaign targeting six Democrats to keep filibuster Washington’s split with Turkey widens — but it is up to Turkey to heal the rift Incomes, consumer spending soared in March as stimulus bill boosted recovering economy MORE signed an executive order on his first full day in office directing federal agencies to “immediately take action” to mandate the use of masks on trains, intercity buses, ferries and in airports.

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Since then, more than 100 million Americans have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus and case numbers have dropped across the country, though officials have urged individuals to remain vigilant and wear a mask in most indoor settings when around others outside one’s household.

The federal rule allows TSA to fine passengers who refuse to wear a mask while traveling. The fine structure will also stay in place through September, which starts at $250 and can get up to $1,500 for repeat offenders.

“The federal mask requirement throughout the transportation system seeks to minimize the spread of COVID-19 on public transportation,” top TSA official Darby LaJoye said in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to evaluate the need for these directives and recognize the significant level of compliance thus far.”

Earlier this month, the CDC updated its travel guidance to say fully vaccinated people can travel safely within the U.S. Airlines and unions lobbied the TSA to extend the mask mandate past the May expiration date, arguing the safety and health of both workers and passengers are at risk without it.

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Few Americans who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus say they are willing to take the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following the temporary pause in its distribution due to rare blood clotting. 

Just 22 percent of unvaccinated Americans said in a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Monday that they would be willing to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Almost three in four — 73 percent — said they were unwilling. 

Slightly fewer than half of all the  adults surveyed also said they consider the Johnson & Johnson vaccine very or somewhat safe.

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Additionally, more than 7 in 10 respondents say they regard each of the other two vaccines that have been approved by the federal government, one by Moderna and another by Pfizer, to be very or somewhat safe.

Federal health officials late last week lifted a recommended pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following a handful of severe blood clotting issues reported in some women. Fewer than 20 cases were reported amid millions of single-shot doses that have already been administered. 

On Sunday, Anthony FauciAnthony Fauci21,000 tested positive in one week after first vaccine dose: analysis 5M Americans have missed second vaccine dose: report Fauci says J&J vaccine pause won’t negatively impact hesitancy MORE said he did not think the brief pause would negatively impact the public’s willingness to get vaccinated. 

“I think, in the long run, what we’re going to see, and we’ll probably see it soon, is that people will realize that we take safety very seriously,” Fauci said on ABC’s “This Week.” “We’re out there trying to combat the degree of vaccine hesitancy that still is out there. And one of the real reasons why people have hesitancy is concern about the safety of the vaccine.”

Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes for Health, on Sunday called the Johnson & Johnson vaccine blood clotting issues “an extremely rare event.” 

“I think she’s in the minority compared to the decision that was put forward by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of [Centers for Disease Control], which met for an entire day on Friday and went over all of the data, documenting a total of some 13 cases of this rare form of blood-clotting out of some eight million doses of the J&J vaccine that had been administered,” Collins said of a CNN health contributor and former health commissioner who called for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine not be administered to any women under the age of 65. 

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The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will now be accompanied by a “new warning on its label about the remote possibility of the dangerous blood clots,” the Post noted. 

The new poll was conducted among 1,007 adults before the pause was lifted. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points. 

 

 

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Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinPutin signs law to limit staff in ‘unfriendly’ countries Overnight Energy: Climate Summit Day 2 — Biden says US will work with other countries on climate innovation Russian policy toward Syria: The perils of success MORE on Friday signed a law limiting staff in embassies, consulates and agencies in “unfriendly” countries.

The law Putin signed will also order the government to cobble together a list of the countries that will be subject to the restrictions.

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According to the Kremlin’s website, the cutbacks will take place in “state bodies and state institutions of foreign states committing unfriendly acts against the Russian Federation.”

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The law comes as Russia finds itself in a slew of diplomatic controversies with European and Western powers.

Russia and the Czech Republic recently expelled diplomats after Moscow was accused of playing a role in an explosion at an arms depot in 2014 in Vrbětice.

Meanwhile, European nations expressed outrage at a military buildup along Russia’s border with Ukraine, which was reversed late this week, amid fears that Moscow was planning an invasion of eastern Ukraine.

And the U.S. slapped a slate of sanctions on Russia over its “malign” actions and cast out 10 diplomats, including some officials Washington accused of being intelligence agents. Russia responded by expelling several unnamed American diplomats.

IT IS WEDNESDAY, MY DUDES.  Welcome to Overnight Energy, your source for the day’s energy and environment news. Please send tips and comments to Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin. Reach Zack Budryk at zbudryk@thehill.com or follow him on Twitter: @BudrykZack. Signup for our newsletter and others HERE. 

Today we’re looking at the Senate’s vote to repeal the Trump administration’s rule on methane emissions, EPA Administrator Michael ReganMichael ReganOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Haaland reverses Trump effort on tribal land | Senate confirms Janet McCabe as deputy EPA chief | Study finds quick action on methane could significantly cut into global warming Senate confirms Janet McCabe as deputy EPA chief OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Supreme Court considers whether US should pay for Guam hazardous waste cleanup | EPA eyes reversal of Trump revocation of California vehicle emissions waiver | Kerry faces calls to step down over leaked Iran tapes MORE’s testimony on the Biden administration’s budget request, and research on the disproportionate racial impact of fine particulate matter.

METHANE ON THE BRAIN: Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation

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The Senate voted Wednesday to undo a Trump administration rule that rescinded methane emissions limits and made it harder to regulate releases of the greenhouse gas from the oil and gas sector.

In the 52-42 vote, three Republicans voted with Democrats to get rid of the rule: Sens. Rob PortmanRobert (Rob) Jones PortmanModerate Republicans leery of Biden’s renewed call for unity Biden makes case for sweeping change Here are the three Republicans who voted to undo Trump’s methane rule MORE (Ohio), Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamHere are the three Republicans who voted to undo Trump’s methane rule OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation | Senate confirms EPA chief: Biden’s climate goals are ‘an opportunity to lead’ | Fine-particle pollution disproportionately hurts people of color: research Senate votes to nix Trump rule limiting methane regulation MORE (S.C.) and Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsHere are the three Republicans who voted to undo Trump’s methane rule OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation | Senate confirms EPA chief: Biden’s climate goals are ‘an opportunity to lead’ | Fine-particle pollution disproportionately hurts people of color: research Senate votes to nix Trump rule limiting methane regulation MORE (Maine).

The methane rule is the first Trump-era rule that Democrats are taking on using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a tool that lets them eliminate regulations completed in the prior 60 legislative days with a simple majority vote.

“The fact that we are using our first CRA on the methane rule shows how important it is and shows the difference in having a Democratic majority when it comes to climate change,” Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSenate hears from Biden’s high-profile judicial nominees for first time Nonprofit with ties to Biden 2020 campaign rolls out voting rights initiative USDA denies Biden trying to limit red meat: ‘This is a fabrication’ MORE (D-N.Y.) said in a press conference ahead of the vote.

What did the rule do?: The rule in question got rid of methane emission standards for the oil and gas sector altogether, and also got rid of limits for substances known as volatile organic compounds from oil and gas transmission and storage.

When it promoted the rule under the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that it would increase methane emissions by 400,000 short tons over the next decade.

The rule’s opponents argued that on top of that, it’s particularly pernicious because it would make it harder to regulate methane by requiring the EPA to prove that the releases from each type of emitter that it regulates contribute significantly to climate change.

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Read more about the vote here:

BY REQUEST: EPA chief: Biden’s climate goals are ‘an opportunity to lead’

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan appeared at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing Wednesday, answering questions about the status of investigations into Trump-era moves at the agency and the Biden administration’s carbon emissions targets.

In a hearing on the EPA’s budget request for fiscal 2022, Regan said the administration’s discretionary funding request of $11.2 billion “recognizes the profound urgency and existential threat of the climate crisis” and “reflects the understanding that a healthy environment and a healthy economy are not mutually exclusive, they actually go hand in hand.”

Sen. James InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeSenate confirms Pentagon policy chief criticized by Republicans for tweets Top general concerned about Afghan forces after US troops leave Harris casts tiebreaking vote to advance Biden nominee MORE (R-Okla.) questioned Regan on the White House’s pledge to reduce carbon emissions by half in the next nine years as the country’s nationally-determined contribution under the Paris Climate Agreement. Inhofe noted that China, the world’s largest emitter, did not commit to similar reductions and has said its emissions peak is still to come.

Regan responded that emissions reduction goals were not simply a sacrifice but “an opportunity to lead in technological advancements and create jobs, [and] the market is trending directionally in this way.”

Next steps on probes into political interference: Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseBiden, progressives face high states in big speech Senate Democrats push Biden over raising refugee cap Overnight Energy: Biden reportedly will pledge to halve US emissions by 2030 | Ocasio-Cortez, Markey reintroduce Green New Deal resolution MORE (D-R.I.) asked Regan about the findings of Office of Inspector General (IG) probes into potential political interference into scientific processes under the Trump administration.

“I think we’re taking a careful look at what the IG reports reveal to us, which are alarming,” Regan replied, adding, “We’re following the advice of our science and doing a complete review of many of the regulations that were put forward in the previous administration and doing a full accounting.”

Read more about the hearing here:

THE POINT IS SOOT: Fine-particle pollution disproportionately hurts people of color: research

Fine particulate matter, the nation’s most common air pollutant, disproportionately harms Black, Asian and Latino Americans, according to research published in the journal Science Advances on Wednesday.

Researchers found that Black, Hispanic and Asian Americans are exposed to more fine particulate matter generated by industry, diesel trucks, light-duty vehicles and construction work, while white Americans face a higher than average level of exposure from coal-fired power plants and agriculture.

Overall, Black Americans are exposed to 21 percent more of such pollution than the national average, compared to 18 percent for Asian Americans and 11 percent for Hispanics, while white Americans are exposed at a rate of 8 percent below the national average.

The trend continues at state and city level: The study found this disparity also applies in 45 of the 48 states analyzed. In individual cities researchers studied, 73 percent of exposure comes from sources that disproportionately affect people of color. The only exception on a city level was for California cities with large Asian American populations, according to the study.

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“In the (population-weighted) average urban area outside California, 67% of Asian exposure is caused by source types that disproportionately expose Asians, compared with 56% when including California,” the study states.

Read more about the study here:

 

ON TAP TOMORROW: 

• The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing to examine the nomination of Tommy P. Beaudreau as  Deputy Secretary of the Interior
• The House Energy & Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2022 budget

WHAT WE’RE READING: 

DDT dump site off L.A. coast much bigger than scientists expected, The Los Angeles Times reports

Speed at which world’s glaciers are melting has doubled in 20 years, The Guardian reports

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Deborah Swackhamer, science adviser fired by Trump EPA, dies at 66, E&E News reports

Emails Show Oil Lobby Mobilized Democratic Governors’ Opposition To Biden Energy Order, HuffPost reports

ICYMI: Stories from Wednesday (and Tuesday night)…

Senate nixes Trump rule limiting methane regulation

Six House Democrats ask Garland to review case of lawyer placed under house arrest over Chevron suit

Fine-particle pollution disproportionately hurts people of color: research

Lawyer says pipeline’s future is at stake in Supreme Court land dispute

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Tesla accused of violating environmental regulations in US and Germany

Graham to vote with Democrats to reverse Trump methane rule

EPA chief: Biden’s climate goals are ‘an opportunity to lead’

OFF-BEAT AND OFFBEAT: Congrats to Prancer

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President BidenJoe BidenTulane adds Hunter Biden as guest speaker on media polarization Trump discussing resumption of MAGA rallies: report Biden’s unavoidable foreign policy crisis MORE is preparing a cybersecurity executive order focused on helping the country protect itself from future cyberattacks following the sophisticated SolarWinds hack that was discovered in December.

The order, as it is written now, includes a spate of requirements that companies who conduct business with the government will be instructed to follow, according to NPR.

“So essentially, federal government procurement allows us to say, if you’re doing business with the federal government, here’s a set of things you need to comply with in order to do business with us,” Anne Nueberger, the deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology at the White House, told NPR.

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The SolarWinds attack, believed to be perpetrated by Russian hackers, was discovered last year. The hackers exploited software from the IT group SolarWinds, which helped them gain access to as many as 180,000 customers. As a result, nine federal agencies and 100 private-sector groups were compromised during the months-long operation.

Biden announced sanctions on Russia earlier this month in response to the hack, among other concerns. The administration issued a formal attribution that named Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) as the culprit behind the cyber attack.

Specifically, the order lays out standards for software development and initiatives to expand systematic investigations that look into cyber events, NPR reported.

According to NPR, the order is centered on the idea that changes in the federal contracting process will “trickle down” reforms to the remainder of the private sector.

Nueberger told NPR that the executive order will “set the goal, give it a timeline and then establish the process to work out the details” on a number of cybersecurity plans, from establishing new ways to look into cyberattacks to creating standards for software.

Nueberger added that the administration performed a “detailed” study of SolarWinds, which revealed that there is “major work” to be done to “modernize our cybersecurity” and to “reduce the risk of this happening again.” She said the looming executive order is “a big part of that.”

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The administration has been teasing “close to a dozen” action items on cybersecurity since March.

A senior Department of Homeland Security official told reporters during a phone call in March that the department is continuing “to work urgently to make the investments necessary, and the administration is working on close to a dozen actions for an upcoming executive order.”

Additionally, the administration last week kicked off a 100-day plan aimed at protecting the nation’s power grid against cyberattacks.

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A supporter of former President TrumpDonald TrumpTulane adds Hunter Biden as guest speaker on media polarization Trump discussing resumption of MAGA rallies: report Biden’s unavoidable foreign policy crisis MORE has been found guilty of threatening to kill lawmakers before President BidenJoe BidenTulane adds Hunter Biden as guest speaker on media polarization Trump discussing resumption of MAGA rallies: report Biden’s unavoidable foreign policy crisis MORE’s inauguration in January.

A jury in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn handed down the verdict for Brendan Hunt, a Queens resident, on Wednesday, The Washington Post reported. Hunt could face up to 10 years in prison.

Authorities said Hunt had posted a video on social media shortly after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot titled “KILL YOUR SENATORS: Slaughter them all.” 

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Hunt said in the video that people should take guns to Biden’s inauguration later that month and “literally just spray these motherf—ers.”

Authorities said Hunt also posted on Facebook in December that he wanted Trump to “hold a public execution of pelosi aoc schumer etc” or else “the citizenry will,” referring to Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiFive takeaways from Biden’s address to Congress Biden offers traditional address in eerie setting Biden makes case for sweeping change MORE (D-Calif.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezNYPD cancels use of robotic dog after backlash Trump supporter found guilty of threatening to kill lawmakers Six House Democrats ask Garland to review case of lawyer placed under house arrest over Chevron suit MORE (D-N.Y.) and Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerSenate hears from Biden’s high-profile judicial nominees for first time Nonprofit with ties to Biden 2020 campaign rolls out voting rights initiative USDA denies Biden trying to limit red meat: ‘This is a fabrication’ MORE (D-N.Y.).

While the jury in Brooklyn convicted Hunt on one count of threatening to murder lawmakers, it found that the posts from 2020 were not criminal.

Hunt was an employee of the New York State Office of Court Administration and a part-time filmmaker and actor before he was arrested a day before Biden’s inauguration. He was later suspended and then fired.

Hunt’s attorneys attempted to argue that their client’s speech was comedy and that jurors needed to watch how he “cracks up” during the January video. Hunt also tried to argue that he was intoxicated during the video and had no real intention of following through with any of his comments.

Hunt was not a part of the Capitol riot and said he was shocked when police raided his home. While the charge did not stem from the Capitol breach itself, it was the first known case where a jury weighed the events of Jan. 6 in its verdict, The New York Times reported.

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The Army will replace the head of its Criminal Investigation Command, moving the official less than a year after assigning her to the role.

Defense One first reported Monday that Maj. Gen. Donna Martin, the provost marshal general of the Army and commanding general of Army Criminal Investigation Command since July, will be replaced following scrutiny over how the division handled the slaying of Spc. Vanessa Guillen. 

Martin took over the command 10 days after Guillen’s body was found near Fort Hood, Texas. Police believed Guillen was bludgeoned to death by fellow Fort Hood soldier Spc. Aaron Robinson, sparking calls to look into the base’s command climate and to change to how the military addresses sexual crimes.  

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The Army put out a statement later on Monday stressing that Martin remains in her current position but that she would be replaced at a later date via a “planned transition” by Brig. Gen. Duane Miller. Miller is currently deputy provost marshal general and deputy commanding general of the command.

Martin’s “next assignment has not yet been announced. The Army announced Feb. 23, 2021 that Brig. Gen. Duane Miller will be Maj. Gen. Martin’s replacement. The change of command date has not been set. This is a planned transition and any insinuation to the contrary is false,” spokeswoman Col. Cathy Wilkinson said.

This would be the second time in two years that the Army has replaced its head law enforcement officer, with Martin replacing Maj. Gen. Kevin Vereen after he had spent a year in the role.  

Guillen’s killing set off nationwide scrutiny of how the military responds to sexual harassment and assault claims among its service members, as Guillen’s family has said she told them she was being sexually harassed but did not want to report it out of fear of retaliation.

The Army quickly thereafter set up the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee, which last year produced a damning report highlighting a climate of widespread sexual misconduct at the base.

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After the report’s release, 14 leaders at the base were relieved of duty or suspended from their positions.

A U.S. Capitol Police officer told his units to only focus on “anti-Trump” protesters during the Jan. 6 riot, CNN reported Thursday, citing an internal investigation.

Rep. Zoe LofgrenZoe Ellen LofgrenCapitol Police officer allegedly told units to only monitor for ‘anti-Trump’ protesters on Jan. 6 Hillicon Valley: Tech companies duke it out at Senate hearing | Seven House Republicans vow to reject donations from Big Tech Wyden-Paul bill would close loophole allowing feds to collect private data MORE (D-Calif.), head of the House Administration Committee, drew attention to the probe during Wednesday’s panel hearing on security failures the day of the deadly insurrection. Lofgren said one radio transmission revealed that officers were instructed to disregard Trump supporters.

“Attention all units on the field, we’re not looking for any pro-Trump in the crowd. We’re only looking for any anti pro-Trump who want to start a fight,” the officer said, according to Lofgren.

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The Capitol Police disputed that reading, saying in a statement Thursday: “The radio call has been misquoted and is lacking full and necessary context.”

“The radio call does not mean USCP was only looking out for anti-Trump counter protestors. The next radio transmission requests that officers be on the lookout for a pro-Trump protester carrying a possible weapon,” Capitol Police said, adding that radio transmissions from Jan. 6 are not under an internal investigation.

Capitol Police Inspector General Michael Bolton said Wednesday that he had yet to read internal reports from the investigation, according to CNN.

The internal investigation involves 36 Capitol Police officers involved in the riot, where Trump supporters stormed the Capitol trying to stop the count of President BidenJoe BidenBiden announces picks to lead oceans, lands agencies Overnight Defense: Top general concerned about Afghan forces after US troops leave | Pentagon chief: Climate crisis ‘existential’ threat to US national security | Army conducts review after 4 Black soldiers harassed at Virginia IHOP Feds expect to charge scores more in connection to Capitol riot MORE‘s Electoral College victory.

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Updated at 4:02 p.m.

Attorney General Merrick GarlandMerrick GarlandDOJ launches probe of Louisville police after fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor Watch live: Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks This week: Biden to pitch Congress ahead of 100-day mark MORE announced Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) would launch an investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department, the second such probe announced in the past week.

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The so-called pattern or practice investigation comes after the death of Breonna Taylor, an African American woman who was killed last year by Louisville police during a no-knock raid on her apartment.

“Those investigations, and the recommendations and actions that ensue, do not only protect individual civil rights. They also assist police departments in developing measures to increase transparency and accountability,” Garland said in the announcement at the department’s headquarters.

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Garland did not mention Taylor by name, and a senior DOJ official later said the investigation was not opened because of one specific incident.

The move tees up greater federal oversight of local police departments, giving the DOJ an avenue to bring civil suits against police departments with a pattern of using excessive force or discriminatory practices against certain groups of people, such as people of color or people with disabilities.

The DOJ on Wednesday kicked off the first such probe under the Biden administration, announcing in the wake of the guilty verdict in Derek Chauvin’s murder trial that it would launch an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the May death of George Floyd.

“It is clear that the public officials in Minneapolis and Louisville, including those in law enforcement, recognize the importance and urgency of our efforts. We come to them as partners, knowing that we share a common aim,” Garland said Monday.

The result of such an investigation is often a consent decree that effectively gives the DOJ oversight of local police departments for years at a time.

DOJ oversight of police departments largely flatlined under the Trump administration after then-Attorney General Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsDOJ launches probe of Louisville police after fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor DOJ to probe Minneapolis police Garland rescinds Trump-era memo curtailing consent decrees MORE issued a memo restricting the use of consent decrees.

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Monday’s announcement signals the Biden administration will take a greater role in monitoring police departments and their use of force as the country grapples with police brutality, systemic racism and potential sweeping reforms.

Senior officials said Monday that the DOJ is planning to hire additional lawyers for its special litigation section, which oversees investigations into various police departments.

In both Louisville and Minneapolis, the pattern or practice reviews will run parallel to open criminal investigations that the department had previously opened regarding the deaths of Taylor and Floyd.

Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo — who testified during Chauvin’s trial condemning his conduct — said in a statement last week that city police would “cooperate fully” with the probe.

A senior DOJ official told reporters on a call Monday afternoon that Louisville’s police department and local officials “welcomed” the review.

The Hill has reached out to Louisville police for comment.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer (D) said Monday that Taylor’s death had prompted a “heightened reckoning with the need for police reform and racial justice.”

A grand jury in September declined to bring murder or manslaughter charges against any of the three officers who were involved with the no-knock warrant that led to Taylor’s death. One of them, former officer Brett Hankison, was indicted on three charges of wanton endangerment for firing his firearm blindly, which resulted in bullets hitting an adjacent apartment.

On March 13, 2020, Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove entered Taylor’s apartment while she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were asleep. They were granted the no-knock warrant under the belief that Taylor’s ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, had been using her apartment as a place to keep drugs and money. No drugs or money were found in Taylor’s apartment after the shooting.

Walker, who believed the officers to be intruders, opened fire, prompting the officers to return fire, hitting Taylor numerous times.

Taylor’s death became a rallying cry — “Say her name” — for the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests that dominated the country last summer after Floyd’s murder.

The city of Louisville settled a civil suit with Taylor’s family for $12 million a week before the grand jury announced its decision.

Similarly, Minneapolis finalized a record $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family last month while Chauvin’s criminal trial was in the jury selection process. It was the largest pre-trial settlement in a civil rights wrongful death case in U.S. history.

Updated at 4:25 p.m.