Janet Dhillon
Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Janet Dhillon is the 17th director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Dhillon previously served as acting assistant secretary and principal deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration. Dhillon also served as a senior counselor in DOL’s Office of the Solicitor.
In 2019, Dhillon was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as a commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Dhillon was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and served on the Commission from May 2019 to November 2022, and as chair from May 2019 to January 2021.
During her tenure as chair, Dhillon implemented a series of reforms to increase the transparency of the Commission’s activities. She instituted the practice of posting the Commission’s votes on the EEOC’s website, so that all stakeholders could easily access the Commission’s actions and Commissioners’ voting records. Dhillon also provided unprecedented disclosure into the Commission’s systemic program and the Commissioner’s charge processes by posting detailed descriptions of both programs on the Commission’s website. She also prioritized restoring accountable oversight to the Commission’s litigation program, including reforms that resulted in greater Commissioner involvement in the agency’s amicus program, and Commissioner review of all proposed litigation.
Under Dhillon’s leadership, the Commission emphasized the importance of compliance assistance as a means of preventing unlawful employment discrimination. The Commission resumed issuing opinion letters for the first time in over 30 years. And throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission issued timely technical assistance addressing a range of questions arising under employment civil rights statutes.
During Dhillon’s tenure as chair, in FY 2020, the EEOC secured a then-record $535 million for victims of workplace discrimination. In addition, the agency reduced its backlog of charges to a 14-year low, while increasing the percentage of charges resolved with an outcome favorable to the charging party.
Outside of government, Dhillon served as the general counsel of several Fortune 500 companies, including US Airways Group, Inc., JC Penney Company, Inc., Burlington Stores, Inc. and Dollar Tree, Inc. She was named Outstanding General Counsel – Large Legal Department – Dallas/Fort Worth by the American Corporate Counsel Association and D CEO Magazine. She is the recipient of the Public Interest Award by the Burton Awards for Legal Achievement. Dhillon was named one of the “Ten Most Influential Lawyers” in Arizona by the Arizona Business Magazine.
Dhillon was the founding Chair of the Retail Litigation Center. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance and the Dallas branch of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
Dhillon began her legal career at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she practiced for 13 years. She is a graduate of Occidental College, magna cum laude, and UCLA School of Law, where she graduated first in her class. She is a member of the California, District of Columbia and Texas bars.