The Shifting Focus of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, established in 1957 to protect voting rights and combat racial inequality, has undergone a significant shift in its investigative priorities during the second Trump administration. Under the leadership of Harmeet Dhillon, the division has pivoted toward challenging diversity initiatives, rolling back pro-transgender policies, and prioritizing gun rights litigation, with California emerging as a primary focus for its enforcement actions.

Reimagining the Division’s Mission

Since the start of the second Trump administration, the Civil Rights Division has moved away from its decades-long focus on investigating police departments for excessive force. Instead, the division is now targeting institutional policies that align with the current administration’s executive orders. According to a Times analysis, the division has been involved in twice as many cases in California as in any other state, leading some former staff members to describe the state as the division’s “punching bag.”

Harmeet Dhillon, a conservative legal crusader and former chair of the San Francisco Republican Party, leads this transition. Dhillon has defended the division’s activities, stating that its actions are based on identifying violations of federal law rather than political motivations. “Being clear about violations of federal civil rights law isn’t political or combative — it’s transparent,” Dhillon said.

Targeting California Institutions

The division has utilized its resources to target various California entities, particularly within the University of California system. Investigations have focused on allegations of antisemitism and race-based admissions practices. For example, the Justice Department concluded that medical schools at UC Davis and UCLA racially discriminated against white and Asian applicants. Additionally, the department determined that UCLA failed to adequately address reports of antisemitic harassment directed at Jewish and Israeli students.

Former Justice Department attorney Ejaz Baluch noted that while staff were never explicitly ordered to target California, the trend was evident. “We were never explicitly told that California institutions are of a particular interest, but it was something that was very easy to notice,” Baluch stated.

Changes in Leadership and Staffing

The reorientation of the division has resulted in a substantial turnover of career staff. Dhillon reported that nearly three-quarters of the roughly 400 attorneys present at the beginning of 2025 have departed. Dhillon has countered this attrition by hiring 100 new lawyers and staff in the last 15 months, with plans to add 100 more.

This leadership style marks a departure from the previous administration. Kristen Clarke, who served as assistant attorney general overseeing the division under President Biden, noted that the current “constant contact” between Dhillon and the White House represents a “complete 180” from the traditional, sturdy wall maintained between the Justice Department and the executive branch.

New Priorities in Litigation

The division’s shift is also visible in its approach to law enforcement and prison oversight. While the division previously focused on police misconduct, it has recently closed several active police investigations. Conversely, it has initiated litigation against law enforcement agencies over gun rights. In September 2025, the division filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, alleging that delays in approving concealed carry permits violated the Second Amendment. A subsequent lawsuit was filed against the state of California and Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta over its ban on Glock pistols.

Regarding correctional facilities, the division opened an investigation in March into two California women’s prisons—the California Institution for Women in Chino and the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla—to examine the impact of housing transgender women in those facilities. This move has drawn criticism from former department officials, who note that prior investigations into sexual abuse of inmates by guards at those same facilities remain unresolved.

Summary of Key Developments

* Staffing Exodus: Nearly 75% of the division’s career attorneys have left since the start of 2025, replaced by new hires under Dhillon’s direction.
* Geographic Focus: California is the site of a disproportionate number of Justice Department actions compared to other states.
* Policy Shift: The division has moved away from investigations into police excessive force, pivoting toward gun rights litigation and challenges to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies.
* Administrative Tone: Former staff members and critics, including Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), argue the department has become “anti-civil rights,” while current leadership maintains that it is simply enforcing federal law evenhandedly.