It comes as the mayor finds himself under scrutiny for his recent remarks about the Black people he has hired, but Johnson says the DOJ should be looking at the Trump administration's hiring practices.
Surrounded by four top-level members of his administration, who are all Black, Johnson defended who he has hired during a press conference on Tuesday.
"We're going to remain firm, steadfast in our commitment to ensure that the incredible, diverse talent that we have within our administration will continue to lead us towards the safest and most affordable big city in America. We're not going to shy away or apologize for who we are," Johnson said.
Mayor Johnson answers question regarding DOJ investigation
The mayor's comments came one day after the DOJ issued a letter, saying it was launching a civil rights investigation into whether Johnson's hiring processes were discriminatory.
The probe was prompted by comments the mayor made at a Black church on Sunday, touting all the Black people he has hired.
"Business and economic neighborhood development, the deputy mayor is a Black woman," Johnson said at the Apostolic Church of God on Chicago's South Side. "The department of planning and development, is a Black woman, Infrastructure deputy mayor is a Black woman, Chief operations officer is a Black man. Budget director is a Black woman, Senior advisor is a Black man....Having people in my administration that will look out for the interests of everyone, and everyone means you have to look out or the interests of Black folks, because that hasn't happened. That is how we ensure long-term sustainable growth."
The mayor called President Donald Trump hypocritical, as his cabinet is mostly white.
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"Whereas my administration reflects the country reflects the city, his administration reflects the country club, and that is the biggest difference between what we're doing in Chicago and what is coming from the federal government," Johnson said.
The mayor was asked what his hiring practices are and how race factors into that.
"I look for people who are competent, right? People who are collaborative, people who are compassionate. You know, is there a value to make sure that people who are closest to neighborhoods bring that level of expertise? There's value in that," Johnson said.
And while the mayor called his administration one of the most diverse ever, he turned the tables, with a challenge to the DOJ.
"This would be unprecedented, but if you just look at the way that Trump's administration is reflected or reflecting right now, I'm calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the Trump's administration and its discriminatory practices and they're hiring," Johnson said.
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This is the latest investigation into the mayor and the city of Chicago. The Trump administration is also suing over the city's sanctuary policies.
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates issued a statement saying, "The president who sees no problem allegedly assaulting women or publicly accepting bribes is using the division of government meant to protect our civil rights to police Black public servants instead.
"The families Black Chicagoans come from didn't flee the Jim Crow South to have a White House reinstate it in 2025 nationwide.
"People of our city no matter their race should be proud of the progress this administration has made in crafting a representative government instead of one built on patronage or corporate influence.
"It's obvious that those who attack Black excellence do so because they pale in comparison.
"Jim Crow and the Klan ended our country's first reconstruction. Reagan and the backlash reacted to the second. Our generation is being tasked with leading the third reconstruction and Donald Trump and his cronies will not be the ones to turn us back now."