Harmeet Dhillon exits DOJ Civil Rights Division after 18 months of overhaul
The first senior Justice Department official to leave since Democrats won both chambers cites a return to private practice, while staff cite a sharp reduction in career attorney ranks.
By Talia Bennett ·
Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, has resigned, ending an 18-month tenure defined by a major restructuring of the unit and a high volume of litigation. Her departure marks the first exit of a senior official from the Trump administration following the midterm elections, in which Democrats regained control of both the House and Senate.
Dhillon arrived at the division with a specific mandate to shift its focus. For seven decades, the office had operated primarily to enforce racial segregation laws and protect constitutional rights in areas such as housing, employment, and policing. Dhillon argued that the mission had narrowed over time to focus exclusively on the rights of people of color. She moved quickly to broaden that scope to align with conservative priorities.
The changes involved a significant turnover in personnel. During her time in charge, Dhillon pushed out approximately 300 career attorneys. She replaced many of them with inexperienced allies who shared her ideological views. Staff who remained were tasked with enforcing new executive orders. These orders targeted perceived radical indoctrination in schools, gender ideology in sports, and alleged antisemitism on university campuses.
The division also became active in election disputes. In the months leading up to the midterms, the office sued dozens of states. The lawsuits demanded that state officials turn over voter information, a move tied to the president's allegations of widespread voter fraud. Election officials contested the legal basis for these suits, and courts subsequently dismissed the department's claims.
Other high-profile litigation included accusations against universities and law schools. The division alleged that these institutions discriminated against white and Asian students. It also filed suits against UCLA and Harvard, claiming both schools allowed antisemitism to flourish on their campuses.
In an email to staff, Dhillon explained that she informed President Trump of her intention to return to private practice in early October. She stated that the post-midterm period was the appropriate time to step down. She described the role as the honor of a lifetime and credited her team with the division's recent legal actions.
Stacey Young, a former division attorney who now leads the group Justice Connection, welcomed the change. Young described Dhillon as the most destructive head of the division in its history. She noted that the office used its power to threaten universities, state officials, and election workers in cases that often failed in court. Young said the departure offers a chance to rebuild the office's capacity to enforce civil rights laws.
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the resignation on X. He thanked Dhillon for her service and said she defended the civil liberties of every American without fear or favor. The department expressed gratitude for her dedicated public service and wished her success in her future endeavors.
