Trainor Appointed Acting DOJ Civil Rights Chief
President Trump appoints HUD official Craig Trainor to lead DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
2 min read
President Donald Trump has appointed Craig Trainor, a senior official at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ). Trainor, who has been serving as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD since October 2025, will now oversee the enforcement of civil rights laws under the DOJ.
Trainor’s tenure at HUD has been marked by significant policy development and enforcement. He was the principal architect of HUD’s civil rights enforcement policies, which helped reduce the Biden-era fair housing case backlog by half. His leadership has been instrumental in ensuring compliance with civil rights statutes across the nation.
In an X post on Tuesday, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the appointment, expressing appreciation for Trainor’s service. The post read: “I am pleased to announce that President Trump has appointed Craig Trainor as Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. Since October 2025, Craig has served as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, where he oversaw nationwide enforcement of HUD civil rights statutes. Craig was also the principal architect of HUD’s civil rights enforcement policies, which cut the Biden-era fair housing case backlog in half. I thank Craig for taking on this critical role and for his dedicated service to the American people and President Trump.”
I am pleased to announce that President Trump has appointed Craig Trainor as Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. Since October 2025, Craig has served as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, where he oversaw…
The Trump administration has not disclosed whether the position is permanent. Harmeet Dhillon, who previously held the role as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, resigned on November 5th. Her departure marks the end of her tenure in the position, which has now been assumed by Trainor.
Trainor’s move to the DOJ signals a shift in the administration’s approach to civil rights enforcement, with a focus on maintaining the policies and frameworks established during his time at HUD. His background in housing and equal opportunity enforcement positions him well for the role, as he brings a deep understanding of civil rights statutes and their implementation.
Source: OANN
