Washington, November 6, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian-American lawyer Harmeet Dhillon has resigned as head of the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, maintaining that her decision to leave was made weeks before the midterm elections and that she stayed on at the White House’s request.
Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed on Thursday that he had accepted her resignation, bringing an end to the Chandigarh-born lawyer’s tenure as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Dhillon rejected suggestions that she had been asked to step down following the Republican Party’s electoral setback. She said she had decided to resign three weeks earlier but agreed to delay her departure after White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles requested that she remain until the midterm elections were over.
Dhillon said she wanted to return to private legal practice and believed she had completed the work she had come to Washington to undertake. Fox News reported that she formally submitted her resignation on November 5.
In a statement on X, Dhillon described serving as the civil rights chief as the honour of a lifetime and credited the Trump administration with advancing its agenda. She cited the administration’s opposition to what it termed illegal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and its efforts concerning women’s and girls’ participation in sports.
President Donald Trump had appointed Dhillon to the position in December 2024. The Senate confirmed her on April 3, 2025, and she was sworn in four days later.
Blanche praised her leadership, saying she had defended Americans’ civil liberties and enforced the law without fear or favour. He thanked her for her public service and wished her success in her future endeavours.
However, her departure drew criticism from Democrats and former Justice Department employees. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin accused Dhillon of using the office to advance Trump’s political interests rather than protect Americans.
Stacey Young, head of the Justice Department alumni group Justice Connection, also criticised her tenure, alleging that the division had moved away from its traditional mission. Her objections included the termination of police reform investigations and agreements, as well as the department’s approach to universities and election officials.
Dhillon graduated from Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia School of Law. She later founded the Dhillon Law Group and the Center for American Liberty.
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