Harmeet Dhillon has resigned as head of the civil rights division at the U.S. Department of Justice, The Washington Post reported on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The New York Times and Politico also reported her departure from the division.
Fox News reported that Dhillon said the White House had asked her to delay her resignation until after the midterm elections. ABC News described her as a top DOJ official and a longtime ally of President Trump.
The reporting did not include Dhillon's stated reasons beyond the account attributed to Fox News, and no successor has been named in the material available.
Dhillon's tenure placed her in charge of the department's civil rights enforcement work, a role that drew attention given her background as a prominent Trump supporter, according to ABC News. The Washington Post's headline identified her as the head of the division at the time of her resignation.
The departure comes shortly after the midterm elections, the timing Fox News highlighted in its reporting on her account of the White House's request.
What to watch next: whether the Justice Department names an acting or permanent replacement for the civil rights division, and whether Dhillon or the White House comments further on the circumstances of her exit.
