Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
Harmeet Dhillon resigns as head of US Justice Department civil rights division
Harmeet Dhillon has resigned as the US Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights.
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that he had accepted her resignation on November 5.
Dhillon said she left by her own choice, after serving in the role since April 2025.
She led the division’s shift toward opposing diversity, equity and inclusion policies, and said it had also fought to protect women’s and girls’ sports.
The division had faced reported mass departures among its staff since President Donald Trump began his second term.
Her departure is the first by a senior Trump administration official since the midterm elections, in which Republicans suffered a major defeat, according to Nikkei.
Dhillon has not said what she will do next, only that she looks forward to what comes next.
Harmeet Dhillon has resigned as head of the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on November 5 that he had accepted her resignation.
Dhillon said she resigned voluntarily and thanked President Donald Trump for the opportunity to serve.
She said the division worked to oppose what she called illegal DEI and to protect women’s and girls’ sports.
Her departure was reported as the first resignation of a senior Trump administration official after the November 3 midterm elections.
- Who
- Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general and head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, resigned.
- What
- She left her post, and Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that he had accepted her resignation.
- When
- November 5, 2026. The announcement came after the November 3 midterm elections.
- Where
- The U.S. Justice Department.
- Why
- Dhillon said she resigned of her own volition. A further reason was not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The U.S. midterm elections were held.
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that he had accepted Dhillon’s resignation.
Dhillon said on X that she had resigned voluntarily and thanked President Trump.
- Position
- Assistant attorney general and head of the Civil Rights Division
- Announced
- November 5, 2026
- Election
- U.S. midterm elections held November 3, 2026
- Appointed
- April 2025
- Department
- U.S. Department of Justice
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What people are saying
She has defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favour,
Serving my country as AAG for Civil Rights has been the honour of a lifetime.
We ushered in the downfall of illegal DEI, we fought to protect women and girls’ sports, and so much more.