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President Donald Trump has rescinded an executive order that had suspended the security clearances of lawyers and staff at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This reversal follows the firm’s agreement to provide $40 million in pro bono legal services supporting administration initiatives, audit its employment practices, and discontinue the use of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
The initial executive order targeted Paul, Weiss due to alleged misconduct by former partner Mark Pomerantz, who had investigated Trump’s financial dealings. In response, firm chairman Brad Karp met with President Trump, acknowledged the concerns, and negotiated the concessions to have the order lifted.
This development is part of a broader pattern, with the Trump administration scrutinizing major law firms like Covington & Burling and Perkins Coie. The administration has suspended security clearances and government contracts for firms perceived as opposing its interests, citing concerns over “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious” litigation.
These actions have sparked debate within the legal community about the balance between government authority and the independence of legal institutions. Some view the administration’s tactics as unprecedented, raising concerns about potential overreach and the implications for the legal profession’s autonomy.