Harmeet Dhillon Resigns as Justice Department Civil Rights Chief

Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has resigned as head of the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, becoming the first senior Trump administration official to leave since the midterm elections. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced her departure in a social media post, praising her leadership.

Editorial·November 5, 2026·reads: 3,128

Harmeet Dhillon Resigns as Justice Department Civil Rights Chief

Blanche said Dhillon had “led the Civil Rights Division with conviction.” He added that she had “defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favour,” and said the department was grateful for her public service and wished her success in the future.

Born in Chandigarh to a Punjabi Sikh family, Dhillon moved with her family first to London and later to the United States. She ran a law firm in San Francisco for several years before joining the Justice Department and was a staunch ally of President Donald Trump.

Dhillon was a frequent guest on conservative podcasts and maintained an active social media presence. Unlike her predecessors, she regularly posted videos about her division’s work. In media interviews, she said she often developed ideas for civil rights investigations based on posts she encountered on social media.