Trump Signs Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms Representing Political Opponents
In early 2025, President Trump signed a series of executive orders suspending security clearances of and directing federal agencies to terminate contracts with law firms that had represented political adversaries or Trump critics, including firms that had employed Mueller investigation prosecutors — a move widely condemned as government coercion of legal advocacy.
Beginning in February 2025, President Trump issued executive orders targeting several prominent law firms including Perkins Coie, Paul Weiss, Jenner & Block, and WilmerHale. The orders directed federal agencies to suspend the security clearances of the firms' attorneys, terminate existing federal contracts, bar firm attorneys from federal buildings, and review all ongoing government work with the firms. The stated justifications included the firms' past representation of political opponents, advocacy for diversity programs, and employment of attorneys who had worked on the Mueller investigation or represented clients critical of Trump. Multiple law firms challenged the orders in federal court; U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell issued a preliminary injunction in April 2025 blocking enforcement of the Perkins Coie order, finding it likely violated the First Amendment by retaliating against the firm based on its legal advocacy and client associations. Several firms reached settlements with the White House before litigation concluded, committing pro bono resources to causes favored by the administration.