Washington, D.C. — The confirmation of Harmeet Dhillon to lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has ignited fierce backlash from advocacy groups, legal experts, and lawmakers who warn her record signals a dangerous retreat from decades of protections for marginalized communities. Dhillon, a staunch Trump ally and self-described “lawyer for the pro-life movement,” now oversees enforcement of voting rights, LGBTQ+ protections, and abortion access—areas where she has actively worked to restrict freedoms.
A Divisive Nominee
Dhillon’s confirmation by a 52-45 Senate vote fell along party lines, with Republicans praising her as a “tireless defender of constitutional rights” and Democrats condemning her history of targeting vulnerable groups. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights called her record “profoundly troubling,” citing her efforts to overturn the 2020 election, lawsuits against trans-inclusive policies, and opposition to the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Threats to Voting Rights
As assistant attorney general, Dhillon now enforces the Voting Rights Act—a law she has repeatedly undermined. During her confirmation hearing, she claimed Section 2 of the Act requires proof of discriminatory intent, a stance contradicting Supreme Court precedent (Allen v. Milligan) and enabling voter suppression tactics. She also championed restrictive ID laws and baselessly accused California’s motor-voter program of fraud, though audits found no evidence.
Critics fear Dhillon will greenlight GOP-led state laws that disproportionately disenfranchise Black and Latino voters. “Her role in spreading election fraud myths and suing to limit ballot access makes her unfit to lead this division,” said Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).
Attacks on Transgender Rights
Dhillon’s nonprofit, the Center for American Liberty, has filed lawsuits to ban gender-affirming care for minors, exclude trans women from Title IX protections, and penalize doctors providing such care. She has called shield laws for trans healthcare providers “crazy” and urged making it “unsafe” for them to operate.
Her representation of detransitioner Chloe Cole in a high-profile lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente—which seeks to criminalize gender-affirming care—aligns with the Trump administration’s broader assault on trans existence. Advocates warn her DOJ role could halt enforcement of hate crime protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Reproductive Rights at Risk
Dhillon’s opposition to abortion access raises alarms for reproductive justice groups. She has labeled abortion a “fake federal right” and defended Trump’s pardons for violators of the FACE Act, which protects clinic access. With the DOJ already curtailing FACE Act prosecutions, her leadership could further embolden anti-abortion extremists.
Politicizing the DOJ
Senators grilled Dhillon on her loyalty to Trump over the rule of law. When asked if she’d refuse an unlawful order, she replied Trump had “never asked [her] to do anything illegal”—a startling claim given her role in his 2020 election lawsuits later deemed frivolous by courts. The ACLU warned her confirmation risks turning the Civil Rights Division into a “tool for ideological vendettas.”
What’s Next?
With Dhillon now confirmed, civil rights groups are bracing for battles over:
- Voting rights: Likely drop in Section 2 enforcement and support for restrictive state laws.
- LGBTQ+ protections: Rollback of Title IX interpretations and hate crime prosecutions.
- Abortion access: Weakened FACE Act enforcement and lawsuits against shield states.
“This isn’t just a shift—it’s a demolition of the division’s mission,” said Maya Wiley of The Leadership Conference.
Trump’s Civil Rights Pick Dhillon Threatens Marginalized Communities (May 2, 2025)
#DhillonNomination, #CivilRightsUnderThreat, #StopDhillon, #ProtectTransRights,
#VotingRightsEmergency, #AbortionAccess, #FACEAct, #TrumpDOJ
Tags: Harmeet Dhillon, DOJ Civil Rights Division, Trump administration, voting rights,
transgender rights, abortion access, LGBTQ+ discrimination, election denial, FACE Act, Title IX
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