Fourth Justice Department Official Resigns After Midterm Losses
Brett Shumate, who led the Justice Department's Civil Division, resigned on Monday, becoming the fourth senior official to leave since the midterm elections.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jack E. Boucher
WASHINGTON, 9 November 2026 — Brett Shumate, the assistant attorney general who has led the Justice Department’s Civil Division since June 2025, resigned on Monday, becoming the fourth senior official to leave the department in the week since Republicans lost their majorities in both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.
Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the resignation in a social media post, saying he had accepted it and praising Shumate’s work challenging local jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Blanche also credited the division with securing settlements to end unlawful corporate diversity programmes and closing dozens of clinics that provided gender-affirming care to minors. The department gave no reason for the departure and, when asked, pointed back to Blanche’s post.
- Shumate led the Civil Division since June 2025 and resigned on 9 November; no reason has been given.
- He is the fourth senior Justice Department official to resign since the midterms, after the heads of the Civil Rights and National Security divisions and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
- The Civil Division defends federal policy in court and represents the government in immigration cases.
- All four held Senate-confirmed posts, and the White House has not named replacements for any of them.
A week of departures
Shumate’s exit caps a week of high-level turnover at the department. Harmeet Dhillon, who led the Civil Rights Division, was the first to leave after the election. Jason Reding Quiñones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John Eisenberg, the assistant attorney general for the National Security Division, both resigned on Friday. Reding Quiñones’s district had overseen the department’s inquiry into the criminal investigations of President Donald Trump.
| Official | Role | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Harmeet Dhillon | Civil Rights Division chief | First to resign after the election |
| Jason Reding Quiñones | U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida | Friday, 6 November |
| John Eisenberg | National Security Division chief | Friday, 6 November |
| Brett Shumate | Civil Division chief | Monday, 9 November |
Each of the four held a Senate-confirmed position, so any permanent replacement will need a presidential nomination and a Senate confirmation vote. The White House has not announced nominees for any of the four roles.
What the Civil Division handles
The Civil Division is the department’s largest litigating arm. It defends federal agencies and policies in court, represents the government in immigration cases, and handles a broad docket ranging from fraud claims to constitutional challenges. Its caseload has grown sharply during the Trump administration as states and advocacy groups have challenged immigration enforcement, spending decisions and regulatory changes in court.
Oversight looms in January
The shake-up comes as Democrats prepare to take control of congressional committees in January, when the new Congress is seated, giving them subpoena power and the ability to call Justice Department officials to testify. Several of the department’s investigations have drawn criticism from Democrats as politically motivated. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, posted “LAWYER UP” on social media on 3 November as the midterm results came in.
The turnover is unfolding alongside a wider reshuffle in Washington. House Republicans are set to choose their next minority leader on Tuesday, and Stephen Miller began his first day as White House chief of staff on Monday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brett Shumate?
Shumate served as assistant attorney general for the Civil Division, the Justice Department’s largest litigating arm, since June 2025. The division defends federal policy in court and represents the government in immigration cases. He resigned on 9 November, and the department has not given a reason.
Who are the other three officials who resigned?
Harmeet Dhillon led the Civil Rights Division and was the first to leave after the midterms. Jason Reding Quiñones was the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John Eisenberg led the National Security Division; both resigned on Friday, 6 November.
Why do the resignations matter?
Four Senate-confirmed posts are now vacant at once, and the White House has not named replacements. Democrats also take control of congressional committees in January, gaining subpoena power over a department whose investigations they have criticised as politically motivated.
The White House has not announced nominees to fill any of the four posts, and the Senate Judiciary Committee has yet to schedule a hearing on Gaiser’s nomination. Democrats take control of the House and Senate committees in January, when the 120th Congress is seated.
