Last Updated on June 19, 2025
DOJ Civil Rights Exodus Shocks Legal Community as Trump’s Overhaul Drives Mass Resignations in 2025 as over 70% of the Civil Rights Division’s attorneys resigned or planned to leave under Trump’s administration.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership shifted focus to Trump’s priorities, like combating antisemitism and protecting white individuals from discrimination, per Raw Story.
As a result, the Trump DOJ attorney resignations signal a major overhaul. Explore more on Trump administration policies.
Division’s Mission Shifts Under Trump
Trump’s administration redirected the Civil Rights Division from its traditional role of protecting minorities, established in 1957.
Notably, Bondi’s team dropped 30 cases on voting rights and racial discrimination, per Raw Story. During this shift, new priorities emerged, like “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” and “Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias.”
Then, the Civil Rights Division departures began, with attorneys citing an inability to uphold their values under the new agenda.
Attorneys Voice Concerns Over Changes
Many attorneys felt the division’s core mission was being dismantled, as Trump’s policies targeted issues like transgender rights restrictions.
“The division is being decimated,” said David Young, a former DOJ official now at Justice Connection, per Raw Story. Meanwhile, Harmeet Dhillon, the new Assistant Attorney General, defended the changes, stating at a Federalist Society event, “We take up the cause to achieve the executive branch’s goals.”
The DOJ lawyer mass exit reflects deep unrest among career staff.
Impact on Civil Rights Enforcement
The DOJ Civil Rights Exodus raises questions about the future of civil rights enforcement in America. Since the division lost 250 attorneys, its capacity to handle cases diminished significantly.
For example, sections on voting, education, and special litigation saw the most departures. Despite this, some conservative voices support the shift, arguing it aligns with Trump’s voter base.
Thus, the Trump reshaping DOJ impact could redefine legal protections for years.
