Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, the third-ranking official at the Justice Department, will be stepping down early next year, as announced by officials on Thursday. Gupta, who has focused on police accountability, abortion rights, and antitrust issues, has played a significant role in civil litigation under Attorney General Merrick Garland's tenure.

During her time at the Justice Department, Gupta oversaw various divisions, including civil rights, antitrust, and environmental divisions. Additionally, she was responsible for managing over $5 billion in federal grants for public safety and criminal justice.

Last year, Gupta was appointed by Garland to lead a task force on reproductive rights after the Supreme Court struck down federal protections for abortion access. Under her leadership, federal authorities took legal action against Idaho for its restrictive abortion law and increased prosecutions of antiabortion activists accused of obstructing reproductive clinics.

Attorney General Garland expressed his appreciation for Gupta's commitment to justice and her ability to foster collaboration, saying, "Vanita's commitment to the pursuit of justice, and her relentless focus on bringing people together to find common ground, has made her an incredibly effective leader in dealing with some of the most complex challenges facing the American people."

Gupta's departure from the Justice Department comes at a critical time, as the agency faces significant tests leading up to the presidential election year. With former President Donald Trump facing felony charges and Hunter Biden, son of President Biden, facing charges related to tax fraud and firearms, the legal cases surrounding these individuals have become highly politicized.

This marks Gupta's second stint at the Justice Department, having previously overseen the civil rights division from 2014 to 2017 during the Obama administration. Her nomination by President Biden faced opposition from Republicans who accused her of being an activist catering to the demands of the far left due to her leadership of a nonprofit civil rights coalition during Trump's tenure.

Despite the criticism, Gupta has maintained support from police unions and several high-profile police chiefs. During her tenure, the Justice Department has pursued comprehensive investigations targeting officer misconduct and excessive force within local police agencies. Notably, the department announced findings of systemic abuses within the Minneapolis and Louisville police departments this year and plans to seek consent agreements mandating policy and training changes.

Gupta played a significant role in streamlining consent decrees to provide clearer guidance to local police agencies on how to emerge from federal oversight, a development praised by Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum.

Moreover, Gupta's efforts led to a recent settlement that prohibits U.S. officials from separating migrant families crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. This settlement provided assistance to thousands of parents and children who were forcibly separated under the Trump administration.

However, Gupta will leave behind unresolved issues in areas she has focused on. Activists have called for a more aggressive approach from the Justice Department in challenging state and local laws restricting abortion rights. Additionally, the federal probe into the Phoenix police department, which has been ongoing for nearly two and a half years, has yet to announce any findings.

Furthermore, Attorney General Garland has not made a decision regarding the pursuit of the death penalty for Payton Gendron, a White man who killed 10 Black individuals at a Buffalo grocery store in May 2022. Gupta had previously expressed her opposition to capital punishment.

As Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta prepares to step down, her departure marks the loss of an influential figure at the Justice Department. With critical legal cases on the horizon and unresolved issues in various areas, the agency will face the challenge of filling her role and continuing the work she has undertaken to protect civil rights, reproductive rights, and ensure accountability in law enforcement.