The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division has hired approximately 130 lawyers in recent months as it works to replenish ranks depleted by the departure of more than 300 nonpolitical career staff since early 2025.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon has redirected the division toward priorities aligned with President Trump’s agenda, including Second Amendment protections and election integrity efforts. The exodus of experienced personnel followed those changes.

Department officials reported rejecting 126 applicants during the same period, indicating a selective process despite the staffing needs. Many of the new hires come from conservative legal backgrounds.

Notable additions include Barry Arrington, appointed acting chief of a new Second Amendment unit. Arrington, a gun rights advocate, successfully argued before the Supreme Court last year against Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy. Other hires feature attorneys with prior roles at organizations focused on immigration enforcement and traditional values. Officials have stated the recruitment reflects the available applicant pool of conservative trial lawyers.

Dhillon has defended the approach, noting that prior administrations drew primarily from progressive activist networks. The division continues to prioritize enforcement of civil rights laws through experienced litigators rather than ideological conformity.

The changes come ahead of midterm elections, with the voting section preparing for expanded monitoring activities. Department sources emphasized that the new hires meet basic qualifications for the roles.