Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, accompanied by her aides, speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2025. Dhillon resigned on Thursday. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images hide caption

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon, is out after 18 tumultuous months in charge, during which she radically reshaped the unit's mission, oversaw the mass exodus of career staff, and aggressively pursued President Trump's agenda.

Dhillon is the first senior department official to depart the Trump administration since Democrats retook control of the House and Senate in midterm elections.

Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a statement on X, announced Dhillon's resignation and thanked her for her service.

"She has defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favor," he wrote.…