President targets law firm’s contracts and diversity initiatives
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday suspending security clearances for employees of the law firm Perkins Coie and targeting its federal contracts. The order cites the firm’s diversity practices and political involvement, notably its past work for Trump’s 2016 election opponent, Hillary Clinton.
The move is the latest escalation in Trump’s ongoing conflict with law firms that have represented clients in lawsuits against his administration. Perkins Coie, founded in Seattle, has long faced criticism from Trump supporters, particularly for its role in representing Clinton’s campaign.
The executive order directs federal agencies to investigate whether other large or influential law firms are complying with anti-racial discrimination laws.
“This executive order will suspend security clearances and restrict access to certain federal resources for the firm,” said Will Scharf, a Trump aide, during the Oval Office signing. “It also launches a broad review of unlawful DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) practices at some of the nation’s largest law firms.”
Trump called it "an absolute honor to sign" the order.
In response, Perkins Coie labeled the executive order “patently unlawful” and pledged to challenge it in court.
This order follows a similar one signed last week targeting another prominent law firm, Covington & Burling. That order revoked security clearances for lawyers who had assisted Jack Smith, the former U.S. special counsel overseeing criminal cases against Trump, and called for a review of federal contracts with Covington.
The new executive order directed federal agencies to ensure that contractors disclose any business dealings with Perkins Coie, with the possibility of terminating those contracts. It also placed restrictions on Perkins Coie employees' access to federal buildings for national security reasons.
“Their disregard for the principle of equality justifies the conclusion that they should not have access to our nation’s secrets nor be entrusted with federal funds,” the order reads.
White House officials indicated that federal agencies would refrain from hiring Perkins Coie employees unless specifically authorized, and that contracts with firms working with Perkins Coie could be blocked due to its involvement in “partisan lawsuits against the United States.”
Perkins Coie is one of nearly a dozen major U.S. law firms that have represented clients in lawsuits challenging Trump administration policies on issues like immigration, transgender rights, and more. The firm is involved in two lawsuits against the Trump administration, including one challenging the restriction of transgender individuals in the military.
The firm also faced a lawsuit from anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum, who alleged that Perkins Coie’s diversity fellowships unlawfully excluded certain people based on race. The suit was dropped after Perkins Coie amended its fellowship criteria.
Legal scholars have expressed concern over the potential implications of Trump’s actions. Georgetown law professor Michael Frisch emphasized the legal profession’s principle that lawyers should not be judged based on the clients they represent.
University of Minnesota law professor Richard Painter, who previously served as associate White House counsel, also questioned the rationale behind linking law firm diversity initiatives to national security risks that would justify stripping security clearances.
Perkins Coie is well-known for its work with tech companies such as Google and Amazon, defending them in various legal matters. However, the firm’s past work for Hillary Clinton has continued to draw criticism from Trump supporters, including notable figures like Elon Musk.
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