President Trump on Thursday rescinded an executive order he signed less than a week ago targeting the Paul, Weiss law firm, citing an agreement with the firm that includes pro bono support for the administration’s initiatives.
Trump posted on Truth Social that he had agreed to withdraw the order he signed March 14, which called for a review of security clearances and government contracts with the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP law firm, called Paul, Weiss for short.
The reversal came as part of an agreement between the firm and the president, according to Trump’s post.
As part of the agreement, the law firm agreed it would not deny representation to clients based on political views; that it would not use any diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies; and that it would dedicate the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services to support the Trump administration’s initiatives such as assisting veterans, combating antisemitism and “fairness in the Justice System.”
The White House said in a statement that Trump made the decision after meeting with Brad Karp, chair of the law firm.
“We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss,” Karp said in a statement that Trump posted to Truth Social. “We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration.”
Trump last week signed an order targeting Paul, Weiss — the latest in a string of moves targeting major law firms that he argued had acted improperly or had ties to his critics or rivals. The order specifically called out Mike Pomerantz, an attorney who previously worked for the firm and later worked in the Manhattan district attorney’s office on the hush money case against Trump.
The Wall Street Journal reported that days later, the law firm was fired by a prominent client over concerns regarding Trump’s order.
Trump has taken a number of actions targeting law firms, including stripping clearances from attorneys at two other law firms.
Perkins Coie sued over an executive order targeting its firm, which, like that dealing with Paul, Weiss, stripped clearances from the firm and also largely blocked it from entering federal buildings, hamstringing its ability to represent clients suing the federal government.
Perkins Coie worked for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the portion of Trump’s order denying Perkins Coie attorneys entry to federal buildings.
Trump also issued an order targeting Covington & Burling, which is providing pro bono services to represent former special counsel Jack Smith in his personal capacity.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission earlier this week also sent letters to 20 law firms asking questions about their DEI practices, arguing firms’ efforts to diversify their workforce could violate employment laws.
Rebecca Beitsch contributed
