Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon resigns from DOJ Civil Rights Division

Harmeet Dhillon, the head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, resigned Thursday following Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections.

Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on X that he accepted the resignation of Dhillon, who led the division for 18 months. Blanche praised her for defending civil liberties "without fear or favor," while Dhillon described the role as the "honor of a lifetime" in her own social media post. Her departure comes two days after Democrats secured control of both the House and Senate, with Al Jazeera reporting that the new Congress is expected to investigate the division's handling of ICE-related killings and Epstein files.

During her tenure, Dhillon shifted the division’s focus toward ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and protecting gun owners' rights. CBS News reported that she oversaw a mass exodus where over 75% of the division's staff departed. According to The Guardian, the department under her leadership dropped numerous cases alleging discrimination against racial minorities in housing, voting, and employment to prioritize lawsuits against elite universities and election-related litigation.

While Dhillon’s resignation letter indicated she had planned to step down after the midterms, CBS News cited sources claiming President Trump had previously demanded she be fired. These sources alleged the president was dissatisfied with her performance during an October "60 Minutes" interview regarding election integrity. However, Justice Department officials reportedly stalled to allow her to resign on her own terms, and the White House issued a statement thanking her for her "dedicated service."

Critics, including NAACP General Counsel Kristen Clarke, accused Dhillon of weaponizing the department and abdicating her responsibility to enforce federal civil rights laws. NBC News noted that her office recently attempted to indict former Trump official Cassidy Hutchinson and brought a criminal case against journalist Don Lemon under a statute typically used to protect reproductive health facilities.

Background

Harmeet Dhillon, a veteran Republican election lawyer, took over the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division approximately 18 months ago. Her tenure was marked by a significant overhaul of the office, which has historically been referred to as the 'crown jewel' of the Department of Justice.