The U.S. Senate, led by Republicans, confirmed conservative attorney Harmeet Dhillon as the new head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a 52-45 vote. Only one Republican, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined Democrats in opposing the nomination.
Dhillon, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and founder of the Center for American Liberty, will oversee key civil rights matters including hate crimes, voting rights, and law enforcement discrimination investigations. Her confirmation signals a continued shift in the DOJ’s civil rights priorities under Trump-aligned leadership.
During her confirmation hearing, Dhillon defended the Trump administration’s move to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, labeling them “unconstitutional.” Her nonprofit claims to support Americans overlooked by traditional civil rights groups like the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Critics, including the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, voiced concern over her record. In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the group cited Dhillon’s support for overturning the 2020 election, her anti-transgender stance, opposition to reproductive rights, and defense of individuals accused of sexual harassment as red flags.
Under Trump’s influence, the Civil Rights Division has redirected focus toward immigration and sanctuary city investigations, reassigned key staff, and paused police reform settlements in Minneapolis and Louisville—both cities at the center of high-profile police killings.
In a recent controversial move, the DOJ also launched a civil rights investigation into the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department regarding possible violations of Second Amendment gun rights.
Earlier the same day, the Senate confirmed Trump’s former attorney John Sauer as Solicitor General, the government’s top Supreme Court litigator, also in a 52-45 vote.
These confirmations underscore Trump’s ongoing impact on reshaping federal civil rights and legal leadership.