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President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent Republican lawyer and GOP national committeewoman from California, to lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Dhillon, known for her strong conservative advocacy, would make history as the first Republican woman and the second Indian-American to head the division if confirmed. She would also be the first practicing Sikh American in the role, which The Sikh Coalition has lauded as a “historic occasion.”
A Controversial Record
Dhillon has built a reputation as a staunch defender of conservative causes:
- Litigation Against “Woke Policies”: Dhillon has sued tech companies like Google, alleging bias against conservative viewpoints and white men.
- COVID-19 Lawsuits: During the pandemic, she challenged California’s stay-at-home orders on behalf of business owners and religious leaders.
- Election Law Advocacy: Dhillon co-chaired Lawyers for Trump in 2020 and led Trump’s election integrity efforts in Arizona during the 2024 general election.
- Opposition to Gender-Affirming Care: She currently represents a woman suing Kaiser Permanente over gender-affirming treatment she received as a teenager.
While her supporters praise her qualifications and commitment to “protecting civil liberties,” critics, including Maya Wiley of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, argue that Dhillon’s career has been focused on curtailing civil rights rather than advancing them. Wiley specifically pointed to her efforts to restrict voting access and challenge DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies.
Support and Backlash
The nomination has garnered enthusiastic support from conservatives. Roger Severino of the Heritage Foundation called Dhillon highly qualified to address what he sees as the overreach of “woke DEI policies” under the Biden administration.
Even some unlikely allies, such as Democratic attorney Mark Geragos, expressed optimism about her leadership. Geragos, who worked with Dhillon on legal challenges to California’s pandemic restrictions, stated, “The civil rights division is going to be better off for having her there.”
Conversely, Dhillon’s nomination has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights advocates who fear her leadership will shift the division’s focus away from its traditional mission of protecting marginalized communities. Her critics also emphasize her close alignment with Trump, citing her firm’s involvement in key legal battles on his behalf, including the high-profile fight over Trump’s eligibility under the 14th Amendment following accusations of insurrection.
Broader Implications
Dhillon joins a growing roster of Trump loyalists being placed in key Justice Department positions, including Pam Bondi as attorney general, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove as deputy attorneys general, and D. John Sauer as solicitor general. Her confirmation would represent a significant ideological shift for the Civil Rights Division, which was led by Kristen Clarke during the Biden administration. Clarke was the first Black woman to hold the role and championed a progressive agenda emphasizing voting rights, police reform, and protections for LGBTQ+ Americans.
What’s Next
If confirmed, Dhillon will face the challenge of balancing her conservative priorities with the Civil Rights Division’s mandate to enforce federal laws prohibiting discrimination. Her nomination is likely to spark heated debates in the Senate, reflecting broader divisions over the future direction of civil rights in America.
