On March 25, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order aimed at Jenner & Block, a prominent law firm. The White House stated that the move is part of a larger crackdown on legal firms accused of using the justice system for political purposes.
Will Scharf, White House Staff Secretary, said the order targets firms involved in what the administration calls “weaponizing” the government. The administration believes some law firms have filed politically motivated lawsuits, and this new measure is meant to curb such actions.
Jenner & Block has historical ties to Andrew Weissmann, who played a key role as a top prosecutor on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Weissmann worked at the firm between 2006 and 2011, then returned in 2020 after his time with Mueller’s team.
This executive order is the latest in a string of actions against major law firms. Just a few days earlier, the firm Paul Weiss reached an agreement with the administration that lifted restrictions previously imposed through another executive order. Meanwhile, the law firm Perkins Coie filed a lawsuit earlier in March challenging the administration’s executive actions. That case led a Washington judge to temporarily block portions of the order on March 12.
In a related move on March 22, President Trump instructed the Justice Department to identify and take action against lawyers and law firms involved in immigration cases or those that sued the government over the past eight years. This sweeping directive could impact many of the nation’s largest legal practices.
Legal scholars and constitutional experts have raised alarm bells over these developments. Critics argue that targeting law firms based on who they represent could violate the First Amendment’s protection of free speech and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process. Some warn that these actions may have a chilling effect on attorneys willing to take on controversial or politically sensitive cases.
As of now, Jenner & Block has not issued a public response to the executive order. The legal community is watching closely, with many expecting continued legal challenges and possible escalations between the White House and top law firms across the country.
