Harmeet Dhillon resigns as head of DOJ civil rights division after 2026 midterm loss

The Guardian reported that Harmeet Dhillon, a Donald Trump ally who has led the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for the past 18 months, is leaving her post. She is the first senior DOJ official to step down following the historic Republican defeat in the 2026 midterm elections. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the resignation in a post on X, saying, “Today, I accepted the resignation of Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who led the Civil Rights Division 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.” The announcement did not include details about her next role.

Why it matters

Her exit signals a leadership change in the DOJ’s civil rights office at a time of political transition.

Key details

Location

United States · Americas

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

5 Nov 2026, 23:14 IST

Key names

Harmeet Dhillon, DoJ, Republican, Donald Trump

Section

Politics

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianHarmeet Dhillon, controversial head of DoJ’s civil rights division, steps down 5 Nov, 23:14

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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