Trump Administration Escalates Campaign Against Major Law Firms

New executive orders and investigations intensify pressure on firms as legal community grapples with constitutional concerns and fears of retaliation.

The Trump administration has issued new executive orders targeting WilmerHale and others, expanding its campaign against major law firms perceived as adversarial.
Paul Weiss settled with the administration, agreeing to provide $40 million in pro bono work and abandon diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, sparking criticism from legal experts and former employees.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is investigating DEI practices at 20 law firms, raising concerns about government overreach and its chilling effect on the legal profession.
Nearly 80 law school deans and over 60 bar associations have publicly condemned the administration's actions as unconstitutional and a threat to the rule of law.
Court challenges, led by firms like Perkins Coie, continue as District Judge Beryl Howell has temporarily blocked parts of the executive orders, citing constitutional violations.