The Justice Department moved Wednesday to cancel settlements with Minneapolis and Louisville that called for an overhaul of their police departments following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that became the catalyst for nationwide racial injustice protests in the summer of 2020.

Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s civil rights division, announced the decision days before the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.

The Justice Department said it is ending investigations of six police agencies and canceling consent decrees proposed for Louisville and Minneapolis. Skyler Henry spoke to Minneapolis Chief Brian O'Hara earlier this week ahead of the expected change.

The decision comes only a few days before the five-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd by the hands of police officers in Minneapolis.

Progress toward more fair policing could be undermined by a push from some activists and lawmakers on the political right to get President Donald Trump to pardon Derek Chauvin, as his administration moves to end federal policing oversight.

The justice department announcement comes just days before the fifth anniversary of the death of George Floyd.

In response to rumors originating on the far right that President Donald Trump might pardon former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin after he was convicted of murdering George Floyd, the city’s police chief says he and state officials are putting a plan in place to handle any civil unrest should a pardon come down from the White House.

The decision reverses course on the use of consent decrees to ensure accountability of law enforcement agencies. It comes days before the anniversary of George Floyd's murder by a police officer.