Catherine Lhamon

Catherine Lhamon is an American civil rights attorney and government official who has served in two presidential administrations. She is known for her vigorous enforcement of federal civil rights laws, particularly in the realms of education and equity. Lhamon has held the position of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education under both President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden. She also currently serves as the chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, an independent, bipartisan agency established by the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Early life and education

Catherine Lhamon was raised in Nipomo, California, and developed an early interest in justice and advocacy. She pursued her undergraduate education at Amherst College, where she graduated with a degree in English. Following her time at Amherst College, she attended Yale Law School, earning her Juris Doctor degree. During her legal education, she was involved in clinical work focused on civil liberties and public interest law, which helped shape her future career path in civil rights enforcement and policy.

Legal career

Following her graduation from Yale Law School, Lhamon embarked on a career dedicated to public interest law and civil rights litigation. She served as a teaching fellow and supervising attorney in the Federal Legislation Clinic at Georgetown University Law Center. Lhamon then worked as an attorney at the nonprofit Advancement Project in Washington, D.C., focusing on issues of educational equity. Prior to her first federal appointment, she was the director of impact litigation at Public Counsel in Los Angeles, where she worked on cases involving fair housing, disability rights, and access to public benefits.

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (2013–2017)

Appointed by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2013, Lhamon led the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education. Her tenure was marked by aggressive enforcement and the issuance of significant policy guidance. Key actions included the 2014 Dear Colleague Letter on Title IX and campus sexual assault, which directed schools to use a preponderance of the evidence standard in investigations. Her office also issued guidance on the equitable treatment of transgender students under Title IX and addressed racial disparities in school discipline through the Supportive School Discipline Initiative. These policies were both praised by advocacy groups and criticized by some educational institutions and political opponents.

Chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (2021–present)

In 2021, President Joe Biden designated Lhamon as chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where she had already been serving as a commissioner. In this role, she oversees the commission's work in studying and reporting on discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. Under her leadership, the commission has launched investigations and issued reports on contemporary civil rights issues, including voting rights, policing practices, and the civil rights implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission's work under her chairmanship continues to inform congressional and executive branch policy debates.

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (2021–present)

Returning to the U.S. Department of Education in 2021 after being renominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Lhamon resumed leadership of the Office for Civil Rights. Her second tenure has focused on reversing policies enacted during the Trump administration and strengthening civil rights protections. Major initiatives have included withdrawing previous guidance on Title IX and initiating a rulemaking process to strengthen protections for survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment. Her office has also prioritized enforcement related to racial and national origin discrimination, the rights of LGBT students, and ensuring access for students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Views and policy impact

Catherine Lhamon is widely regarded as a forceful advocate for an expansive interpretation and vigorous enforcement of federal civil rights statutes. Her policy approach is characterized by a belief in the use of departmental guidance and enforcement actions to advance equity, particularly in educational settings. Her work on Title IX, school discipline, and transgender rights has had a profound impact on the operations of K-12 schools and institutions of higher education across the United States. While celebrated by organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Women's Law Center, her methods and policies have also faced legal challenges and criticism from groups such as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education and some members of the Republican Party.