Overview

• Nearly 70% of attorneys in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division have resigned or plan to leave, citing ethical objections to its new direction.
• Under the leadership of Harmeet Dhillon, the division has shifted focus to enforcing executive orders, including investigating alleged anti-Christian bias and rolling back diversity programs.
• Mission statements have been rewritten to exclude references to foundational civil rights laws, effectively dismantling decades of protections for vulnerable groups.
• Former officials and experts warn that diminished enforcement capacity will lead to increased unlawful discrimination, particularly against marginalized communities.
• Reports describe morale collapse within the division, with attorneys seen sobbing during meetings as the department’s independence erodes.