Vanita Gupta, the Associate Attorney General of the United States and a prominent Indian-American figure, is scheduled to resign from her position in February 2024, according to an official announcement made on Thursday. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first woman of color to occupy the third-highest role at the Department of Justice (DoJ). During her tenure, Gupta headed the Reproductive Rights Taskforce, dedicated to safeguarding reproductive freedoms protected by federal law. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland lauded her exceptional service, acknowledging her efficacy in addressing intricate challenges, combatting crime, supporting crime victims, and championing the cause of justice.
Gupta played a pivotal role in a spectrum of initiatives, ranging from fostering trust between police and communities to advocating for reproductive freedom and tackling issues related to gun violence. As the highest-ranking Indian-American within the department, she exercised oversight over diverse areas, including civil litigating divisions, grantmaking components, and the Office for Access to Justice. Gupta chaired the Reproductive Rights and Opioid Epidemic Civil Litigation Task Forces and spearheaded endeavors against unjust practices related to fines and fees. A former President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Gupta is esteemed as one of America’s preeminent civil rights attorneys. Her multifaceted career includes serving as Deputy Legal Director and Director of the Center for Justice at the ACLU. Gupta, an alumna of Yale University, also contributed to legal education by teaching civil rights litigation at New York University School of Law.
