{"id":2575708,"date":"2026-03-03T17:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T22:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-will-defend-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T17:03:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T22:03:06","slug":"doj-will-defend-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-will-defend-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ will defend Trump executive orders targeting law firms"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-will-defend-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2575708&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Justice Department unexpectedly reversed course again and said it will continue defending President Trump\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-touts-gas-prices-as-major-2021-accomplishment\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Touts Gas Prices as Major 2021 Accomplishment\">executive orders targeting<\/a> several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/legal-nonprofit-helps-victims-of-human-trafficking-expunge-criminal-records\/\" title=\"Legal nonprofit aids trafficking victims in clearing criminal records.\">large law firms<\/a>, less than 24 hours after seeking to abandon the fight. In a brief filing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.Circuit, DOJ lawyers moved to withdraw their prior request to voluntarily dismiss the consolidated appeals, offering no explanation for the sudden change.<\/p>\n<p>The orders,issued in 2025,aimed to punish firms for past work by suspending attorneys\u2019 security clearances,restricting access to federal buildings,and directing agencies to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-seeks-pause-in-in-lawsuits-against-trumps-executive-orders\/\" title=\"... seeks pause in in lawsuits against Trump&#039;s ...\">terminate government contracts involving<\/a> the firms and their clients. The affected firms included Perkins Coie, Jenner &#038; Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey, with ties cited to Hillary Clinton\u2019s 2016 campaign, the Mueller investigation, and other political matters.<\/p>\n<p>Judges in four related cases previously struck down the orders as unconstitutional. the DOJ had appealed those rulings, then abruptly sought to dismiss the appeals, prompting surprise and questions about the reversal. It remains unclear how the three-judge panel will respond, especially given the about-face.<\/p>\n<p>The article notes surrounding context, including pro bono pledges by other firms and related commentary on the litigation.A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DOJ reverses course and will defend Trump executive orders targeting law firms<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2103860\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> reversed course on Tuesday and told a federal appeals court it will continue defending President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.cadc.42183\/gov.uscourts.cadc.42183.01208826946.0_6.pdf\">Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s executive orders targeting several major law firms &mdash; less than 24 hours after seeking to abandon the fight.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.cadc.42183\/gov.uscourts.cadc.42183.01208826946.0_6.pdf\">short filing<\/a> to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, DOJ lawyers moved to withdraw their <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.cadc.42238\/gov.uscourts.cadc.42238.01208826804.0.pdf\">prior request<\/a> to voluntarily dismiss the consolidated appeals. The DOJ offered no explanation for the abrupt change in position.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4478314\/suspect-accused-killing-israeli-embassy-staffers-pleads-not-guilty-new-charges\/\">Suspect accused of killing Israeli Embassy staffers pleads not guilty to new charges<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4478070\/justice-department-abandons-defense-trump-executive-orders-targeting-law-firms\/\">Justice Department abandons defense of Trump executive orders targeting law firms<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4476823\/biden-judge-blocks-noem-ban-lawmaker-visits-ice\/\">Biden judge blocks Noem from banning lawmaker visits at ICE detention sites<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A banner showing President Donald Trump is hung from the Justice Department on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Allison Robbert)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to the White House for comment and was referred to the DOJ. A DOJ spokeswoman declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Hours after asking the court to dismiss its appeal, the Department of Justice has abruptly reversed course and moved to continue its defense of the unconstitutional executive orders,&rdquo; a spokesperson for&nbsp;Perkins Coie&nbsp;said. &ldquo;It offered no explanation to either the parties or the court for its reversal.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Judges in four separate cases last year struck down Trump&rsquo;s executive orders that critics said were aimed at punishing firms affiliated with his political opponents.<\/p>\n<p>The orders sought to suspend attorneys&rsquo; security clearances, restrict access to federal buildings, and direct agencies to terminate government contracts involving the firms and their clients. The affected firms &mdash;&nbsp;Perkins Coie,&nbsp;Jenner &amp; Block,&nbsp;WilmerHale,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Susman Godfrey&nbsp;&mdash; quickly won injunctions, with judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents finding the orders unconstitutional.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ appealed those rulings in June 2025 and was scheduled to file its opening brief on Friday. On Monday evening, however, the department moved to dismiss the appeals, prompting surprise across the legal community.<\/p>\n<p>David Lat, a legal commentator who publishes the Substack Original Jurisdiction, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/davidlat.substack.com\/p\/trump-v-biglaw-justice-department-doj-dismissal-undismissed-appeal-of-rulings-against-executive-orders-eos\">said he was &ldquo;weirdly looking forward&rdquo;<\/a> to seeing how the government would defend the orders, which he described as constitutionally vulnerable. Lat speculated the looming deadline may have prompted internal concerns about creating an unfavorable precedent in the District of Columbia Circuit.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, the DOJ had previously sought delays and changes to the structure of the litigation ahead of Friday&rsquo;s deadline. <\/p>\n<p>Last month, a DOJ attorney handling the case requested <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4435531\/doj-seeks-pause-law-firm-executive-order-cases-pending-decision-mark-zaid-appeal\/\">that the litigation be stalled<\/a> ahead of an appeals court ruling over the Trump administration&rsquo;s revocation of attorney <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4464500\/doj-says-judge-wrong-mark-zaid-clearance-restored\/\">Mark Zaid<\/a>&lsquo;s security clearance. The DOJ argued that both cases have links to the president&rsquo;s Article II authorities, and it also sought to consolidate the lawsuits involving the law firms into a single case, given their similarities.<\/p>\n<p>The targeted firms opposed the DOJ&rsquo;s reversal, arguing the unexplained &ldquo;about-face&rdquo; should not justify any extension of the government&rsquo;s briefing deadline.<\/p>\n<p>It is unclear how the three-judge panel will respond, especially given that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">the DOJ sought to dismiss the cases less than 24 hours earlier<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While the DOJ can request dismissal, the final decision rests with the court, and the outcome of the case will be even more of an open question now, considering the about-face decision to request cancellation of the previously requested motion to dismiss.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, nine other firms <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2025\/04\/12\/big-law-pro-bono-legal-work-trump\">previously pledged roughly $1 billion<\/a> in pro bono work to causes favored by the administration in exchange for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >avoiding similar executive orders<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trump signed the orders in March and April 2025, targeting firms over past hires and legal work tied to his political and legal battles.<\/p>\n<p>Perkins Coie was targeted in part for its representation of&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hillary-clinton\/\">Hillary Clinton<\/a>&rsquo;s 2016 campaign and its role in commissioning the Steele dossier, which former&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\">Obama administration<\/a>&nbsp;leadership used as the basis to investigate the now-debunked claims that Trump&rsquo;s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia during that year&rsquo;s presidential election.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ABANDONS DEFENSE OF TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS TARGETING LAW FIRMS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>WilmerHale and Jenner &amp; Block had hired lawyers involved in the DOJ&rsquo;s prior Trump-Russia investigation, including&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3788930\/robert-mueller-parkinsons-disease-past-four-years\/\">Robert Mueller<\/a>&nbsp;and one of his top deputies at the time, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2388390\/top-mueller-prosecutor-was-source-of-negativity-and-mistrust-at-fbi-ex-bureau-lawyer\/\">Andrew Weissmann<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Susman Godfrey represented Dominion Voting Systems in the defamation case it filed against Fox News after the network was accused of defamation during its coverage of Trump&rsquo;s 2020 election skepticism following his defeat. The suit <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/900742\/fox-reaches-787m-settlement-with-dominion-moments-before-opening-of-defamation-trial\/\">was resolved<\/a> in a $787 million settlement before the trial began.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Justice Department unexpectedly reversed course on Tuesday and told a federal appeals court that it will continue defending President Trump\u2019s executive orders aimed at four major law firms\u2014Perkins Coie, Jenner &amp; Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey\u2014after having asked to drop the case less than 24 hours earlier. The new filing offered no explanation for the flip.<\/p>\n<p>The orders, issued in March and April 2025, were designed to punish firms tied to political opponents by suspending attorneys\u2019 security clearances, restricting access to federal buildings, and requiring agencies to terminate contracts with the firms and their clients. Courts appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents blocked the orders as unconstitutional, granting injunctions.<\/p>\n<p>Last year the DOJ appealed those rulings, with its opening brief due on Friday. On Monday evening, the department unexpectedly moved to dismiss the appeals, surprising many in the legal community. Some observers speculated the looming deadline or concerns about creating a bad precedent in the D.C. Circuit prompted the reversal.<\/p>\n<p>Previously the DOJ sought delays and structural changes to the litigation, including consolidating the law-firm cases and delaying related Trump-Russia matters involving Mark Zaid\u2019s security clearance, arguing links to the president\u2019s Article II powers.<\/p>\n<p>The firms opposed the reversal, saying the unexplained about-face should not extend the briefing deadline.<\/p>\n<p>The ultimate ruling rests with the court, and the outcome remains uncertain given the DOJ\u2019s reversal.<\/p>\n<p>Separately, nine other firms had pledged roughly $1 billion in pro bono work to causes favored by the administration to avoid similar executive orders.<\/p>\n<p>Background notes: Perkins Coie represented Hillary Clinton\u2019s 2016 campaign and was tied to the Steele dossier; WilmerHale and Jenner &amp; Block had lawyers involved in the DOJ\u2019s Trump-Russia probe; Susman Godfrey represented Dominion in a defamation suit against Fox News that settled for $787 million<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2575709,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26050663724444.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7076,74959,74960,4784,3634],"class_list":["post-2575708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-doj","tag-executive-orders-2","tag-law-firms-2","tag-litigation","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26050663724444.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2575708"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2575712,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2575708\/revisions\/2575712"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2575709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2575708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2575708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2575708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}