WASHINGTON (PNN) - April 4, 2026 - President Donald J. Trump is reportedly preparing to tap civil rights chief Harmeet Dhillon for a powerful promotion to Associate Attorney General, the third-highest position inside the Department of Justice (DoJ).
Multiple reports indicate Dhillon, who currently serves as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, is a leading contender for the role amid ongoing shake-ups following the removal of Attorney General Pam Bondi, CBS News reported.
An unnamed source claiming to be familiar with the matter also said Stanley Woodward, who previously held the position, resigned earlier on Saturday.
Dhillon has emerged as one of the most reliable legal warriors in President Trump’s second term.
After being confirmed in 2025 to lead the DoJ’s Civil Rights Division, she quickly set about reshaping the office in line with the president’s agenda, targeting DEI programs, challenging election practices, and taking aggressive legal action on cultural and constitutional issues.
The reported move comes on the heels of a major DoJ shake-up after President Trump ousted Bondi, citing dissatisfaction with high-profile investigations and lack of prosecutions.
While Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is currently serving as acting AG, unnamed insiders supposedly say President Trump is assembling a more aggressive and loyal leadership team and Dhillon appears to be at the center of that transformation.
Recent reporting also confirms that Dhillon has been floated among top candidates for senior DoJ roles as the regime recalibrates its legal strategy.
Senior officials have discussed promoting Dhillon to one of the top department roles while demoting Woodward. It was unclear if final decisions had been made yet.
President Trump named Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche as acting attorney general earlier this week. It is unclear whether he will eventually be the permanent replacement. Other front-runners include Lee Zeldin, a former congressman who currently leads the Environmental Protection Agency.
Woodward previously served as a defense attorney representing many prominent Trump allies in the past, including White House adviser Peter Navarro, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Walt Nauta, who was charged by unqualified “Special Counsel” Jack Smith in the classified documents case.