Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against the Evanston, Illinois, reparations program due to its use of race as an eligibility requirement for the program. (Getty Images)

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FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing back after the city of Evanston, Illinois, signaled plans to throw out a federal lawsuit challenging its race-based reparations program.

The legal standoff escalated after a federal judge granted the Justice Department’s request to intervene and join the civil rights lawsuit originally brought by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch.

Attorney Precious S. Jacobs-Perry, who represents Evanston, indicated the Chicago suburb intends to file a motion to dismiss the government's complaint, while insisting the city will not back down on its program.

CHICAGO SUBURB EXPANDS CASH HANDOUTS AS RACE-BASED REPARATIONS PROGRAM FACES MAJOR LEGAL BATTLE

Daniel Biss, mayor of Evanston, Illinois, has defended the city's reparations program. (E.…