Importance Score: 78 / 100 🔴
Trump Administration Transforms Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division
The Trump administration has quietly reshaped the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, compelling a departure of a majority of seasoned managers and instituting novel priorities. Current and former officials assert these changes abandon a decades-long commitment to enforcing statutes that outlaw bias in employment, housing, and voting rights. This shift raises concerns about the future of civil rights enforcement and discrimination prevention under the new administration’s agenda for the Justice Department.
Exodus of Experienced Lawyers
- Over a dozen veteran attorneys—many boasting decades of service under presidents from both parties—have been reassigned, according to current and former officials.
- Some have resigned out of frustration after being moved to less desirable roles, unrelated to their areas of expertise, sources confirm.
“It’s been a complete bloodbath,” remarked a senior Justice Department lawyer within the division, who remains anonymous due to not being authorized to speak publicly.
New Priorities Emerge
President Donald Trump’s appointed head of the division recently issued a series of directives outlining objectives significantly contrasting with how both Republican and Democratic administrations—including Trump’s initial term—have enforced civil rights legislation.
Instead of primarily focusing on upholding federal laws that combat discrimination, the division is now tasked with pursuing aims delineated in several of Trump’s executive orders, such as “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports” and “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” as stated in memos issued by division head Harmeet Dhillon.
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Dhillon’s Background
Dhillon is a staunch conservative who represented Trump in challenging the 2020 election outcome and firmly supported his unsubstantiated allegations of fraud.
These modifications have not been publicly communicated by the DOJ. Initial reports surfaced via Reuters.
A “180 Shift”
“This constitutes a complete reversal from the division’s established mission,” stated a former senior official within the division who wished to remain anonymous fearing reprisal.
“These documents appear disconnected from reality,” the former official noted. “The division is bound to enforce laws passed by Congress, yet these directives seem to expect division attorneys to undertake work that fundamentally departs from its longstanding goals.”
Dhillon’s Defense
In a formal statement, Dhillon characterized these changes as a typical realignment of priorities with a new administration, coupled with a drive for enhanced efficiency.
“Each incoming administration establishes its own objectives and allocates resources accordingly,” Dhillon explained. “The Trump administration is consistent with this practice. Upon assuming my role as Assistant Attorney General, I found certain sections within Civil Rights carried considerable existing caseloads and backlogs and thus temporarily detailed staff to assist these sections in resolving these cases.”
She added, “The Civil Rights Division remains committed to vigorously safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans.”
Inside Perspectives
NBC News consulted with 10 current and former employees of the Civil Rights Division, alongside other sources briefed on the Justice Department’s operations for this report. The majority requested anonymity due to apprehension of potential retaliation.
Sources indicate many of the division’s senior managers have been reassigned to roles disconnected from their legal specializations, including positions in the complaint adjudication office and the office responding to public records requests.
Broader Implications
The Civil Rights Division’s transformation mirrors broader shifts occurring throughout the federal government. The Trump administration has been systematically removing nonpartisan civil servants and reshaping federal agencies with unprecedented speed and boldness. Similar changes are reportedly underway in other Justice Department offices, although the recasting of the Civil Rights Division is particularly striking, according to current and former officials.
Historical Context
Founded in 1957, following the passage of landmark civil rights legislation, the Civil Rights Division has historically adapted to the policy preferences of each president, with enforcement priorities varying between Republican and Democratic administrations. However, the modifications enacted over the past three months represent an unprecedented departure, far surpassing changes observed during Trump’s first term, according to multiple individuals.
“Having served almost 18 years, I can attest that current actions fundamentally contradict our past work,” reflected a seasoned lawyer who recently left the department. “During Trump’s first term, we were treated as legal professionals. Political appointees, who were practicing attorneys, sometimes agreed with our counsel, sometimes disagreed, but constructive dialogue informed those choices. This is no longer happening.”
Past Achievements
Under the Biden administration, the Civil Rights Division secured convictions against 180 police officers for civil rights violations, according to Justice Department records. Furthermore, it prosecuted several high-profile hate crimes, including cases involving the Texas assailant targeting Mexicans at an El Paso Walmart (resulting in 23 deaths) and the Pennsylvania perpetrator responsible for the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh (resulting in 11 deaths).
The division achieved numerous settlements related to racial discrimination, including reforms at Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee, following discoveries of harassing incidents—such as a mock “slave auction” and a “monkey of the month” campaign targeting Black students—that fostered racial hostility. In terms of voting rights, the division successfully contested an Arizona law that mandated proof of citizenship alongside birthplace information during voter registration.
Future Uncertainty
Current and former employees express disbelief that such enforcement actions could occur under the current leadership.
“They’re rescinding past actions and opposing voting rights protection,” stated a former Civil Division lawyer. “This isn’t simply a matter of favoring religion cases or deprioritizing creative redlining cases; it’s a complete abandonment of past achievements. There is active opposition to civil rights—a significant departure from Trump’s earlier policies.”
Dhillon assumed office on April 7th, though changes were already underway. The Civil Rights Division has since suspended investigations into police abuse and initiated inquiries into alleged gun rights violations in Los Angeles and perceived antisemitism on American university campuses. Further, it joined a lawsuit accusing Maine of violating regulations by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
Concurrently, managerial vacancies remain unfilled, effectively halting much of the division’s customary work, according to current and former officials.
“Those who believe this administration will safeguard their rights are mistaken,” cautioned a recently departed division lawyer.
Project 2025
Conservative Trump supporters, in their “Project 2025” plan, advocate for Trump to “reorganize and refocus the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division” to spearhead what they describe as a “return to lawfulness.”
“Various entities across both private and public sectors in the United States have been besieged by special interest groups, government radicals, and the far Left,” they wrote. “This coalition advances interests selectively, often at the expense of other Americans, thereby violating established federal laws.”
Dhillon’s Directives
Dhillon’s memos, issued recently, detailed wide-ranging new priorities.
For instance, the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section, which previously enforced Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, preventing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, and ancestry in federally funded programs, now has different goals.
Dhillon’s memo states that this section will now focus on priorities outlined in Trump’s executive orders, including “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism,” “Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” and “Designating English as the Official Language of the United States.”
Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias
Attorney General Pam Bondi hosted a meeting of a new Trump administration task force addressing “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias,” asserting, “The Biden administration engaged in targeting peaceful Christians while ignoring violence, anti-Christian offenses.”