WASHINGTON — In a world where there’s often little distinction between the massive bureaucratic state and individual government employees, and in which words ring hollow in pursuit of political achievements, one shining star stood out as an advocate for constitutional rights: Harmeet Dhillon; and she just resigned.
“Today, I accepted the resignation of Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who led the Civil Rights Division with conviction the past 18 months. She has defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favor. The Department is grateful for her dedicated public service, and we wish her every success in her future endeavors,” stated Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“Serving my country as AAG for Civil Rights has been the honor of a lifetime. We ushered in the downfall of illegal DEI, we fought to protect women and girls’ sports, and so much more. I want to thank President Trump for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to what’s next!” Ms. Dhillon said in a statement from her official X account.
The news of Ms. Dhillon’s resignation broke on Thursday, November 5, much to the dismay of the Second Amendment community, who had come to see her as a true and apolitical champion of not just Second Amendment rights, but civil liberties in general.
“Harmeet Dhillon will go down as one of the most prolific Second Amendment champions to serve in the Department of Justice. Under her watch, the federal government championed gun rights in a way not seen since Reconstruction. We are very sad to see her go, and we hope to see her replaced with someone who values the Second Amendment just as much. Whoever they are, they will have big shoes to fill,” said Kostas Moros, Director of Legal Research and Education for the Second Amendment Foundation in a statement to News2A.
Ms. Dhillon came to the DOJ from the private law sector, and her hard work and determination, coupled with legal victories, caused many to consider her a viable candidate as attorney general to replace Pam Bondi, who Trump ousted earlier this year.
Serving as head of the Civil Rights Division, beginning in December of 2025, Ms. Dillon stood up the highly effective Second Amendment Section, a group within the Civil Rights Division whose mission was “to ensure that law-abiding American citizens may responsibly possess, carry, and use firearms.”
News2A has thoroughly tracked the 2A legal actions of the Justice Department, and in particular the efforts of Ms. Dhillon and the Second Amendment Section.
Under her leadership, the Second Amendment Section filed more than a dozen affirmative lawsuits, from Colorado to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., targeting firearms and magazine bans, and permitting delays. This marks the first time in history that the Justice Department has defended the 2A rights of Americans.
Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Dhillon authored numerous amicus briefs, brought affirmative litigation against states and municipalities, and provided articulate oral arguments in court – all in defense of Second Amendment liberties.
Very few public officials have aggressively defended Second Amendment liberties. Beyond her official duties, Ms. Dhillon had a personal passion for engaging in Second Amendment activities, showcasing her firearms handling and training at shooting ranges in various personal posts on social media.
Her resignation comes just after the massive shift in power in the midterm elections in which Democrats took control of the House and the Senate, but Ms. Dhillon rejects the idea that the election pushed her out. “I wasn’t asked to resign,” she told Fox News Digital. “I resigned three weeks ago, and Susie asked me to please wait until after the midterms,” a reference to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. She called it “my decision, my choice,” and said of the Civil Rights Division’s work, “We changed it, and that’s what we came here to do. And it’s done.” Her resignation letter is dated November 5.
Even on her own account, the timing says something. A senior official decided to leave before election day and was asked to hold the announcement until the votes were counted.
Ms. Dhillon was confirmed as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights on April 3, 2025. Prior to joining the Justice Department, she ran the San Francisco-based Dhillon Law Group, founded in 2006, specializing in constitutional, civil liberties, employment, business, and political law. She clerked for Judge Paul V. Niemeyer on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.
News2A would like to express its sincere gratitude to Ms. Dhillon for every effort she made to advance civil liberties and protect Second Amendment rights in particular.
Ms. Dhillon is the second high-profile DOJ employee to announce a departure in as much as a week. On October 30, ATF Chief Counsel Robert Leider also announced his resignation.
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