Trump's Terms Trump's Terms

How Trump reshaped the DOJ's Civil Rights Division to serve his agenda

Oct 13, 2026 · 5m

Summary

NPR Justice Correspondent Ryan Lucas reports on how Harmeet Dillon has radically reshaped the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division under President Trump. The segment details the departure of over 300 veteran attorneys and their replacement by new hires allegedly selected for political ideology rather than experience. Lucas highlights a shift in enforcement priorities, noting aggressive lawsuits against states over voter data and accusations of discrimination against white and Asian students at elite schools, while investigations into police misconduct have been dropped.

Topics discussed

Sponsor ad and show introduction Intro to Civil Rights Division changes Historical mission of the division Harmeet Dillon's leadership and ideology Criticism of current enforcement logic Staff turnover and new hires Changes to hiring process Department response and experience concerns Shifts in voting and education enforcement Dropped police investigations and defense Wrap-up and podcast promotion NPR Plus sponsorship and sign-off IMS Legal Strategies advertisement Mint Mobile advertisement
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