Tue Apr 29 05:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Mass Exodus Hits Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division Amidst Shift in Priorities
**Washington D.C.** – The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division is facing a mass exodus of lawyers and staff, with hundreds leaving the agency in recent months. This dramatic turnover is attributed to a fundamental shift in the division’s priorities under the current administration, which aims to refocus its efforts away from its traditional work protecting minority rights.
The departure rate has sharply increased following the reopening of a “deferred resignation program,” allowing employees to resign while receiving continued pay. Over 100 lawyers are expected to utilize this program before the Monday deadline, further depleting the division’s ranks.
The new head of the division, Harmeet K. Dhillon, has openly welcomed the departures, stating that the division does not want employees who prioritize what she terms “woke ideology” over enforcing federal civil rights laws. She specifically cited a desire to move away from monitoring police departments for civil rights violations.
Current and former employees contend that this represents more than a simple shift in priorities, unlike typical changes between administrations. The division’s traditional role of protecting the constitutional rights of minority groups and marginalized communities, including fighting housing discrimination and protecting voting rights, is reportedly being significantly curtailed. The new focus appears to be on pursuing cases against institutions like Ivy League schools and liberal cities. The situation has sparked concern about the future of civil rights enforcement within the Department of Justice.
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