In a surprise turn of events Friday, President Donald J. Trump announced the revocation of a controversial executive order aimed at the global law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, citing what he described as the firm’s “remarkable change of course.”
The now-rescinded Executive Order 14237, signed just over a week ago on March 14, 2025, had accused the firm of playing an “outsized role in undermining the judicial process” and promoting “the destruction of bedrock American principles.” The order had sought to address what Trump called political weaponization within elite legal institutions.
However, in a new executive order issued Friday, Trump commended Paul Weiss for taking significant steps to reform its internal practices and public posture.
“Paul Weiss has acknowledged the wrongdoing of its former partner Mark Pomerantz,” Trump wrote, referring to the attorney who played a key role in investigations targeting the former president during his time out of office. “This development should give Americans hope.”
According to Trump’s statement, Paul Weiss has agreed to a series of sweeping policy changes, including:
- Adopting political neutrality in client selection and hiring practices
- Eliminating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) mandates in favor of merit-based hiring and promotion
- Expanding pro bono efforts across the political spectrum
- Pledging $40 million in pro bono legal services over Trump’s term to causes including veterans’ support, justice reform, and combating antisemitism
- The president praised these steps as a “return to American values” and suggested that other law firms should follow suit.
“If the legal profession dedicates a fraction of its energy to bringing justice to local communities, unleashing hard-working businesses, strengthening the American family, and unifying our Nation, all Americans will benefit,” the president stated in the order.
The original order targeting Paul Weiss had drawn backlash from legal and civil liberties groups, which questioned the appropriateness of singling out a private law firm for its political affiliations or past cases.
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Mark Pomerantz, the former partner referenced by Trump, was notably involved in legal actions against Trump as part of the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation into alleged financial misconduct — a case that galvanized Republican outrage and led to calls for broader accountability within the legal establishment.
Paul Weiss has not issued a public statement confirming or denying the reported policy changes, but sources close to the firm said internal reforms have been underway since early March following discussions with federal officials.
The revocation of Executive Order 14237 signals a de-escalation in what had become a high-profile dispute between the Trump administration and some of the country’s top legal institutions. Critics had warned that the original order blurred the line between political retribution and governance, while supporters argued it was necessary to hold elite firms accountable for perceived partisanship.
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Trump’s move comes as his administration continues its push to “de-politicize” major institutions, from the Department of Justice to the military, in what the White House has described as a campaign to root out ideological bias and restore trust in government.
Friday’s executive order ends with a general clause clarifying that it does not create enforceable rights or benefits and must be implemented consistent with existing law and funding limits.
As legal observers await further clarification from Paul Weiss and other firms, Trump allies are hailing the announcement as another victory in the president’s drive to “drain the swamp” — not just in Washington, but across America’s professional power centers.
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