DOJ official Harmeet Dhillon resigns

Julianna Bragg

Dhillon speaking into a microphone wearing a navy blue long-sleeve shirt with gold buttons. — Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon on Aug. 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo: David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Justice Department, has resigned from her role, Attorney General Todd Blanche said Thursday.

Why it matters: Dhillon, who spent her tenure replacing attorneys with others more closely aligned with the Trump administration's ideology, is the first senior-level Justice Department official to step down following Democrats' blue sweep in the midterm election.

What they're saying: "She has defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favor," Blanche wrote on X.

"The Department is grateful for her dedicated public service, and we wish her every success in her future endeavors," he said.
The DOJ did not respond to Axios' request for comment.

Worth noting: Dhillon spearheaded the DOJ's efforts to monitor midterm elections in all 50 states for the first time in U.S. history, sending approximately 1,000 monitors to ensure "election integrity."

Flashback: Before joining the DOJ, Dhillon founded the Dhillon Law Group, Inc., and the Center for American Liberty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending Americans' civil liberties.

What we're watching: It's unclear whether other top officials may resign during the lame-duck period.

Go deeper: Trump picks Dhillon to lead AZ election integrity program

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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DOJ official Harmeet Dhillon resigns

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