Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump who led a major conservative shift within the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, plans to resign following Democrats’ victories in Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to a Bloomberg report published Thursday.

Dhillon, who serves as assistant attorney general for civil rights, has informed people close to her that she intends to leave the department after the election results. Four people familiar with her plans told Bloomberg that she had communicated her decision to allies, while two said an official announcement could come as soon as Thursday.

Her departure would make her the first senior Justice Department official to step down following the Republican Party’s losses, which handed Democrats control of both chambers of Congress. Former department officials have indicated that additional political appointees could leave during the transition period before Democrats assume control in January.

Dhillon was confirmed by the Senate in April 2025 after being nominated by Trump. A longtime Republican Party official and former campaign attorney for the president, she took over a division that had traditionally focused on enforcing federal civil rights protections and redirected significant attention toward religious liberty, Second Amendment protections, election integrity and allegations of antisemitism on college campuses.

One of her major changes was establishing a dedicated Second Amendment section within the Civil Rights Division. Her department also pursued litigation involving state voter registration rolls, immigration policies and alleged civil rights violations. Dhillon recruited dozens of attorneys with conservative legal backgrounds following the departure of numerous career lawyers from the division.

Her leadership represented a significant change in the department’s approach to civil rights enforcement, with the Trump administration emphasizing religious freedom, constitutional protections and alleged discrimination against conservatives and Jewish Americans. The changes also drew criticism from opponents who argued that the administration was weakening longstanding federal voting rights protections and redirecting the division away from its traditional responsibilities.

Dhillon would be the second Senate-confirmed Justice Department official to leave in recent weeks. Patrick Davis, who served in the department’s Office of Legislative Affairs, resigned last month. The possibility of further departures comes as Democrats prepare to exercise greater oversight authority over the department and investigate Trump administration policies.

Before joining the Justice Department, Dhillon founded the California-based Dhillon Law Group and the Center for American Liberty. Her law practice focused on civil rights, First Amendment protections, election law, and free speech litigation. Her brother, Mandeep Singh Dhillon, has managed the law firm during her government service.

Dhillon previously indicated that she expected to return to private practice once her government service ended. During an August interview with Bloomberg reporters and editors, she expressed enthusiasm about returning to the courtroom and continuing her legal work.

“In terms of private practice, when the president is done with me, I loved being a lawyer in private practice,” Dhillon said. She added that she hoped to use the experience gained at the Justice Department to “continue to help plaintiffs.”

Her anticipated resignation comes at a politically difficult moment for the Trump administration, as Democrats prepare to investigate federal agencies and challenge several of the president’s policies. The extent of any broader personnel changes at the Justice Department remains unclear.