Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael E. Gates has announced his resignation from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, effective November 24, 2025, after serving ten months under the Trump Administration.
In his resignation letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Gates cited “much prayer, thought, and deliberation” in making his decision to step down.
Shortly after submitting his resignation, Gates posted on X:
“Headed back to Huntington Beach, CA! After 10 months of serving the country with much sacrifice away from the family and enduring very difficult circumstances, I have made the decision to return to Huntington Beach—to carry on the critical legal battles. I received the offer this past Friday and accepted with a start of November 24th. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work for the Trump Administration. We will Make America Great Again!”
Gates, who previously served as City Attorney of Huntington Beach for ten years, announced that he will return to California to continue fighting on behalf of his community and the state.
In his letter, Gates expressed deep gratitude to Attorney General Bondi and President Trump for allowing him to serve as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
During his tenure, Gates prioritized protecting service members under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, revived the “Protecting U.S. Worker’s Initiative” to safeguard American labor, and began vigorous enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act to clean voter rolls for future elections.
Gates also highlighted his role in dismissing politically motivated “Biden-era weaponization cases” and defending President Trump’s Executive Order to protect the integrity of American elections in Washington, D.C. District Court.
He personally argued several landmark cases, including those defending religious liberty.
Read his resignation letter below:
After much prayer, thought, and deliberation, I have decided I must submit my resignation.
Please know it has been an honor of a lifetime to work with you and the Trump Administration these 10 months as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice – and afforded the opportunity to serve the Nation in this way.
It has been such a privilege to work earnestly with my attorney teams from day one to protect our military service members by prioritizing enforcement of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; to put American workers first by reviving the Protecting U.S. Worker’s Initiative; to dismiss Biden-era weaponization cases, to begin vigorous enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act to clean voter rolls for future elections, and to work to restore the faith of the American people in our justice system.
It was also a particular honor to personally argue important cases in federal court, including the Free Exercise of Religion case against Washington State and to defend the President’s Executive Order to Protect the Integrity of American Elections in Washington D.C. District Court.
My decision to resign was not made easily – but, in light of many circumstances, and after my experiences working at the Civil Rights Division in Washington D.C. this year, I believe this the best decision for me and my family.
I will however forever be grateful to you and your staff and the Trump Administration for this opportunity to serve.
This is my two weeks’ notice; I will then return to the City of Huntington Beach (where I just served for 10 years as the elected City Attorney) to continue the fight for California.
Thank you, and God Bless the work you and the Trump Administration are doing for our country!
Headed back to Huntington Beach, CA! After 10 months of serving the country with much sacrifice away from the family and enduring very difficult circumstances, I have made the decision to return to Huntington Beach – to carry on the critical legal battles. I received the offer… pic.twitter.com/97Wl4vQuQ4
— Attorney Michael E. Gates (@MichaelGatesESQ) November 9, 2025
The post Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Gates Resigns From DOJ — Returns to Huntington Beach to “Carry on the Critical Legal Battles” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.