Trump Weighs Further Leadership Changes at Justice Department

The White House is considering additional leadership changes at the U.S. Justice Department, with two senior officials potentially affected as President Donald Trump continues to reshape the department’s top ranks.

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According to sources familiar with the discussions, the changes could involve Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon. Officials have discussed promoting Dhillon to one of the department’s highest roles while moving Woodward out of his current position. Sources cautioned that no final decisions have yet been made.

A spokesperson for the United States Department of Justice declined to comment on personnel matters.

Leadership shifts after attorney general’s removal

The potential changes come shortly after Trump removed Pam Bondi from her post as attorney general earlier in the week. The president had reportedly grown frustrated that Bondi had not pursued criminal cases against individuals he views as political opponents.

Following her departure, Trump appointed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as acting attorney general. It remains unclear whether Blanche will be nominated to hold the position permanently.

Other possible candidates are also under discussion. One of the names mentioned as a potential contender is Lee Zeldin, a former member of Congress who currently leads the Environmental Protection Agency.

Background of Stanley Woodward

Woodward, currently the third-ranking official in the Justice Department, previously worked as a defense lawyer representing several allies of Trump.

Among his former clients were White House adviser Peter Navarro, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Walt Nauta, who was charged in the classified documents investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Woodward also represented Kelly Meggs, a member of the Oath Keepers militia group who was convicted of seditious conspiracy related to the January 6 Capitol attack. Meggs later had his sentence commuted by Trump.

Despite his connections to the president’s allies, Woodward has faced criticism from some figures within Trump’s political orbit. Far-right commentator Laura Loomer has publicly criticized him, pointing to his wife’s support for progressive causes.

As associate attorney general, Woodward oversees several major divisions within the department, including the Civil Rights Division, Antitrust Division, Civil Division, and the Environment and Natural Resources Division. The role also supervises the department’s grant-making offices and the U.S. trustee program.

Dhillon’s tenure at Civil Rights Division

Dhillon, who currently leads the Civil Rights Division, is widely viewed as a close political ally of Trump.

During her tenure, the division has experienced substantial turnover. More than 75% of its attorneys have left over the past year, many accepting buyouts or early retirement amid concerns about changes to the office’s priorities.

Under Dhillon’s leadership, the division has launched investigations into diversity, equity and inclusion policies at universities, filed lawsuits seeking to prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s sports, and pursued legal action against dozens of states to obtain unredacted voter registration lists.

She also established a new section dedicated to gun rights enforcement.

Dhillon additionally halted efforts to negotiate consent decrees with police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, which had been pursued after earlier investigations during the previous administration found evidence of systemic constitutional violations.

Criticism from former officials

Dhillon’s approach has drawn criticism from former staff within the Civil Rights Division.

In an open letter last year, more than 200 former attorneys from the division accused her of undermining the office’s mission. The division was established under the Civil Rights Act of 1957, legislation designed to combat racial segregation under the Jim Crow system and protect voting rights for Black Americans.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 5 April 2026