Dhillon Confirmed to DOJ Civil Rights Post Amid Controversy

Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, a conservative lawyer and longtime US President Donald Trump loyalist, has been confirmed by the Republican-majority US Senate in a 52-45 vote to lead the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Dhillon’s appointment follows her nomination earlier in 2025, when Trump lauded her record of suing tech giants over alleged free speech violations and opposing diversity programs. Dhillon, who previously served on the board of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California, also founded the Center for American Liberty and helped challenge the 2020 election results. Civil rights advocates, including the ACLU and the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, have expressed alarm over Dhillon’s history of challenging LGBTQ+ rights, her active role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and her criticisms of federal voting protections. The Sikh Coalition, which previously collaborated with Dhillon on workplace discrimination cases, declared that questions remain about her commitment to voting rights enforcement and her stance on critical civil rights issues such as hate crimes, transgender protections, and the autonomy of minority faith communities. The Sikh Coalition’s submission to the Senate Judiciary Committee highlights concerns about Dhillon’s support for election fraud allegations, her endorsement of banning some equity initiatives, and her Center for American Liberty’s lawsuits against gender-affirming care. Meanwhile, in Virginia, delegate JJ Singh successfully guided a measure to protect houses of worship in the state, specifically targeting hate crimes and security preparedness. Under this law, which takes effect 1 Jul, religious institutions will be offered best practices for safeguarding their sanctuaries, reinforcing their ability to hold services without fear of violence or intimidation. Sikh advocates in Virginia welcomed this development as an example of proactive measures that uphold the rights of minority communities (earlier coverage).