President-elect Donald Trump announced the appointment of Harmeet K. Dhillon, an Indian-American attorney, as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice. Dhillon becomes the fourth person of Indian descent to be named to a key position in Trump’s second-term cabinet.
Trump expressed his pleasure in nominating Dhillon, recognizing her career in defending civil liberties, especially in cases involving Big Tech censorship, religious freedom, and anti-discrimination lawsuits. “Harmeet has fought for free speech, defended Christians during COVID, and challenged corporations with discriminatory policies,” Trump said.
A prominent election lawyer and respected Sikh leader, Dhillon has been instrumental in ensuring that all legal votes count. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia School of Law and has clerked for the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Trump highlighted Dhillon’s Sikh heritage, noting her prominent role in the Sikh community. In 2020, Dhillon recited the traditional Sikh prayer Ardas at the Republican National Convention, calling for courage, truth, and justice, values she has embodied throughout her career.
Her appointment further enhances the representation of the Indian-American community in key political roles, contributing to diversity in Trump’s cabinet.
