Former justice department workers sign letter decrying Trump’s ‘near destruction’ of civil rights division – live

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 14 min read 100% complete by Shrai Popat (now) and Emily Mackay (earlier)December 9, 2025 at 04:58 PM

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A letter signed by over 200 former Justice Department civil rights division employees was released on Tuesday, decrying the "near destruction" of the agency. The letter, released on the 68th anniversary of the division's founding, accuses political leadership under the Trump administration of purging career experts and abandoning civil rights enforcement. The former employees allege that the division dismissed key cases involving voting rights, sexual abuse, and police misconduct, and that the division head, Harmeet Dhillon, encouraged departures. The letter states that by May 1, 2024, the department had lost approximately 70% of its attorneys. The former employees claim the administration prioritized Trump's agenda over the division's core mission to protect civil rights, leading to a mass exodus. They call on Americans to demand the division enforce civil rights laws and defend equal justice.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Harmeet Dhillon ×280% Donald Trump ×4100% United States ×3100% Civil Rights Division ×4100%

Keywords

civil rights division 100% civil rights 80% justice department 80% trump administration 70% career employees 60% political appointees 60% consent decrees 50% voting rights 50% mass exodus 40%