Dhillon leaves DOJ Civil Rights Division

Washington. Harmeet Dhillon stepped down from her role as assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division on Thursday. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the departure in a social media post, confirming the exit of the official who led a major restructuring of the unit.

Dhillon confirmed her position last year and immediately shifted the division’s focus. Former attorneys criticized this shift, arguing she moved away from traditional civil rights enforcement toward conservative priorities. Dhillon described the resulting staff turnover as the biggest single personnel self-purge in Justice Department history. More than three quarters of the unit’s workforce from the start of President Donald Trump’s second term have left.

Under her leadership, the division abandoned police reform settlements and launched investigations into elite universities. These probes focused on admissions processes and campus antisemitism. Dhillon’s pressure campaign resulted in multiple settlements and the resignation of the University of Virginia president. She also pushed states to release detailed voter records, a legal battle that saw repeated court losses.

Blanche praised Dhillon for leading the division with conviction. He stated that she defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favor. The department expressed gratitude for her service in his written statement. Dhillon did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the resignation.

Stacey Young, a former division attorney who now leads a network of Justice Department alumni, offered a different perspective. Young called Dhillon the most destructive head of the division in its history. In an emailed statement, Young noted that the division had supported civil rights laws for nearly 70 years. She said Dhillon decimated that legacy.

Dhillon is a Sikh who was born in India and immigrated to the United States as a child. She had a long career in conservative legal circles before joining the administration. She represented President Trump during the House committee’s investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The panel eventually dropped its subpoena for his testimony, an outcome Dhillon celebrated on social media.

The division was created during the Civil Rights Movement to protect the rights of minorities. Dhillon’s tenure saw a dramatic change in its direction. She frequently posted on social media to publicize new investigations based on tips from followers. Her departure marks the end of a period of intense change within the Justice Department.