Harmeet Dhillon Resigns From DOJ Civil Rights Division After Midterms

A major leadership change at the US Department of Justice followed the midterm elections as Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon resigned from her position overseeing the Civil Rights Division. She formally submitted her resignation on November 5, saying she had completed her objectives in Washington and wanted to return to private legal practice.

Dhillon told Fox News Digital that her departure was decided weeks before Republicans suffered losses in the midterm elections. She also said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles requested that she remain in office until voting concluded.

"I wasn't asked to resign," Dhillon told Fox News Digital. "I resigned three weeks ago, and Susie asked me to please wait until after the midterms."

Dhillon said she had informed Wiles about her plans approximately three weeks before Election Day. She believed she had "accomplished everything" she originally intended to achieve in the administration and wanted to resume her private-sector career.

"My decision, my choice," Dhillon said. "It's time."

Dhillon explained that returning to private practice was the primary motivation behind her departure. She had moved to Washington following the deaths of her husband and father, describing her decision to join the administration as an opportunity to serve the country.

"serve my country" was how Dhillon described her original motivation for relocating to Washington, according to her interview with Fox News Digital.

Her resignation ends approximately 19 months leading the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. President Donald Trump nominated her in December 2024, and the Senate confirmed her appointment in April 2025.

During her tenure, Dhillon redirected the division's priorities toward religious discrimination, race-conscious policies, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, transgender participation in women's sports, Second Amendment rights and election integrity.

According to Fox News Digital, approximately 300 attorneys left the division during Trump's second term. Dhillon said she recruited more than 130 lawyers to rebuild its workforce, while Bloomberg Law reported that many new hires had backgrounds in conservative advocacy.

The division also expanded its involvement in litigation concerning state voter rolls, immigration and alleged antisemitism on college campuses. Its restructuring included establishing a dedicated Second Amendment section and increasing attention to religious liberty cases.

"We changed it, and that's what we came here to do. And it's done," Dhillon told Fox News Digital.

Her departure attracted attention because it followed the Republican Party's losses in both chambers of Congress. Bloomberg Law reported that she was the first senior Justice Department official to leave following the election results.

Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed that he had accepted Dhillon's resignation in a statement posted on X. He acknowledged her leadership during her approximately 18-month tenure, according to his public announcement.

Blanche described her leadership as being carried out "with conviction the past 18 months."

"She has defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favor. The Department is grateful for her dedicated public service, and we wish her every success in her future endeavors," Blanche said.

Dhillon also addressed questions about potential congressional investigations after her departure. Asked whether she would testify if subpoenaed, she acknowledged that executive privilege could restrict what she could discuss.

"I would certainly take legal counsel and follow it in that regard," Dhillon said when discussing how she would respond to a congressional subpoena.

She was also questioned about whether she expected Trump to issue pardons for administration officials if congressional Democrats pursued investigations. Dhillon said she had never discussed the possibility with the president.

"I have no idea. I haven't ever discussed that with him, asked for it," Dhillon said.

She added that she did not believe her conduct required presidential protection.

"And I have done nothing, in my opinion, that would require that, but, you know, that's up to the president," she said.

Before entering government, Dhillon established Dhillon Law Group and the Center for American Liberty. Her legal career included litigation involving First Amendment protections, election law and civil rights.

During an August interview with Bloomberg reporters and editors, she had already discussed returning to her California-based law firm after completing her government service. The firm had been managed by her brother, Mandeep Singh Dhillon, during her absence.

"In terms of private practice, when the president is done with me, I loved being a lawyer in private practice," Dhillon told Bloomberg. She also described her intention to apply the experience gained in government to future legal work.

"continue to help plaintiffs," she said when discussing her plans for private practice.

Bloomberg Law also reported that other senior political appointees could leave the Justice Department before the New Year. Dhillon became the second Senate-confirmed DOJ official to depart in recent weeks, following Patrick Davis, who resigned from the Office of Legislative Affairs the previous month.