Chicago Monday, May 19, 2025
Trump Administration Overhauls DOJ Civil Rights Division, Prompting Mass Resignations
The Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice is undergoing a major upheaval as the Trump administration implements sweeping changes to its focus and mission. Approximately 250 attorneys, roughly 70% of the division’s legal staff, have resigned or are planning to leave between the start of Trump’s presidency and the end of May, according to both current and former officials.
This shift marks a dramatic departure from the division’s historic role, established during the civil rights movement to fight discrimination and safeguard constitutional rights in areas such as voting, housing, employment, education, and policing. Instead, the division is now being steered toward enforcing President Trump’s executive orders. These include crackdowns on what the administration calls “radical indoctrination” in schools, protection against “gender ideology extremism,” and addressing antisemitism and perceived anti-Christian discrimination.
Critics Say Division’s Mission Is Being Undermined
Many current and former Justice Department officials view these changes as a dismantling of the division’s foundational purpose. Former attorney Stacey Young criticized the shift, emphasizing that the division should uphold civil rights laws for all Americans, not act as an enforcer of the president’s agenda. “That’s a distortion of the separation of powers,” she said.
While it’s not uncommon for priorities to change with new administrations, insiders argue this goes far beyond the usual adjustments. Under the leadership of Harmeet Dhillon, a conservative lawyer appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate in April, the department has withdrawn from about 30 cases involving voting rights, racial discrimination, and anti-abortion protests. Dhillon has also redefined the mission of the division’s 11 sections to align with Trump’s executive directives, with new goals such as “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation” and “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”
Young, now leading Justice Connection, a support group for DOJ alumni, warns that these changes are eroding the division’s credibility and purpose. “It’s being dismantled,” she said, “and civil rights protections are being selectively applied to favored groups.”
