Harmeet Dhillon resigns from Department of Justice civil rights role

Justice Department civil rights chief Harmeet Dhillon resigns after the midterm elections.

Justice Department civil rights chief Harmeet Dhillon has resigned following the Republican Party's defeat in the 2026 midterm elections. Her departure marks the first high-level exit from the administration after the vote, following a turbulent 18-month tenure marked by internal disagreements over legal strategies. An incoming Democratic Congress is now expected to investigate the division's past handling of high-profile files.

• The tenureHarmeet Dhillon spent 18 months leading the civil rights division during a period of massive internal overhaul.
• The backgroundHer departure follows a historic Republican defeat in the midterm elections and internal strategy conflicts.
• The outlookThe incoming Democratic Congress plans to investigate the office's past handling of sensitive federal files.