United States of America - March 2025

The Trump administration has issued executive orders and memos directing federal agencies to terminate contracts with businesses that are clients of some law firms, and ending the security clearances of the lawyers they employ. The law firms in question, which include Perkins Coie, Covington & Burling and Wilmerhale, have represented or employed people considered by the Trump administration to be political adversaries. Others have been targeted for implementing DEI policies in their hiring procedures. A memo to the Attorney General has further called for ethics investigations into individual lawyers who represent plaintiffs in cases against the government. These measures have led to several firms refusing to represent the targeted law firms, Trump critics, or former officials under the Biden administration. Others have made deals with the government to provide pro bono counsel for causes the President supports. Experts consider the executive orders to severely undermine freedom of expression, due process and the right to legal counsel. 

Sources: The White House (1), The White House (2), The White House (3), The White House (4), The White House (5), NY Times