Trump ally who reshaped DOJ civil rights unit resigns

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 21:39 · Archive

Harmeet Dhillon, a top US Justice Department official who redirected the Civil Rights Division toward Trump administration priorities, has resigned.

Harmeet Dhillon, a top US Justice Department official, has resigned after reshaping the Civil Rights Division to pursue Trump administration priorities. She is among the first senior officials to leave following Tuesday's midterm elections, in which Democrats retook both chambers of Congress.

Under Dhillon's leadership, the Civil Rights Division shifted focus away from its historical role protecting voting rights and fighting racial discrimination toward challenging diversity initiatives and investigating antisemitism on college campuses. This led to investigations of several elite universities and prompted a wave of departures among career staff, whom Dhillon said had pursued liberal priorities and were unwilling to implement the Trump administration's agenda.

In her resignation letter, Dhillon cited as accomplishments efforts to force US institutions to scale back diversity initiatives and challenges to school districts over transgender policies. She told the White House in October she planned to resign. On social media, she wrote: 'We ushered in the downfall of illegal DEI, we fought to protect women and girls' sports, and so much more.'

According to two people familiar with the matter, Dhillon was frustrated at being passed over for promotions in the department. She will return to her law firm, The Dhillon Law Group, which had recently shrunk as some attorneys left for other practices.

How it is being reported

• Trump ally who remade DOJ civil rights unit resignsHarmeet Dhillon, a top US Justice Department official, led investigations to pressure dozens of universities she viewed as too liberal.The West Australian · 5 Nov, 21:11
• Trump ally who remade DOJ civil rights unit resignsHarmeet Dhillon, a top US Justice Department official, led investigations to pressure dozens of universities she viewed as too liberal.Perth Now · 5 Nov, 21:11

In this story: Harmeet Dhillon · Trump · US Justice Department · Civil Rights Division · Democratic Party

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