Trump pushes for Supreme Court to stop US judges’ ability to issue injunctions that block his administration’s actions

The executive order had threatened to revoke the security clearances of Paul, Weiss attorneys and cancel the firm’s federal contracts.

By: Express Web Desk

March 21, 2025 08:17 AM IST

2 min read

President Donald Trump gestures after signing executive order in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP)

President Donald Trump has cancelled an executive order that targeted the major international law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Garrison & Wharton. The decision came after the firm agreed to review its hiring policies and offer tens of millions of dollars in free legal services to support certain White House initiatives.

The move follows a meeting between Trump and the firm’s chairman, Brad Karp, regarding the order issued last week. The executive order had threatened to revoke the security clearances of Paul, Weiss attorneys and cancel the firm’s federal contracts. It specifically highlighted the work of Mark Pomerantz, a former lawyer at the firm, who had investigated Trump’s finances while working with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office before Trump became president.

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To avoid these penalties, Paul, Weiss agreed to provide “$40 million in free legal services” supporting Trump administration policies, including helping veterans and fighting anti-Semitism, according to the White House. The firm also promised to “take on a wide range of pro bono matters that represent the full spectrum of political viewpoints of our society” and to stop considering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) factors in hiring and promotions.

In a statement released by the White House, Karp said, “We are gratified that the President has agreed to withdraw the Executive Order concerning Paul, Weiss. We look forward to an engaged and constructive relationship with the President and his Administration”, as reported by AP.

Paul, Weiss is the latest business to make concessions to Trump to avoid being targeted. Tech giant Meta and broadcaster ABC recently made settlement payments to Trump’s future presidential library to resolve lawsuits filed by him. Other major technology and financial firms have also rolled back DEI programmes in response to Trump’s policies.

Earlier executive orders have also targeted law firms such as Perkins Coie, which has since sued in federal court, and Covington & Burling.

(with inputs from AP)

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