This is astounding to me. Not just the policy, but that people would make it or defend it. It turns racial classifications back into the old rational basis standard instead of making any racial classification subject to strict scrutiny such that no other method would be feasible.
It seems that under this regime a government could refuse to hire blacks under the guise that blacks commit crime at a higher rate and use some of the justifications in this thread. “Yes, it isn’t a perfect match, but we cannot be bothered to use more direct or scientific evidence to clear out those who commit crimes; we are just doing the best we can with imperfect information. The people want honest government employees and we are doing what we can to provide that.”