Addressing Risks From Jenner & Block
Executive Order
•
March 28, 2025
•
Document 2025-05519
Summary
On March 25, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14246, targeting the law firm Jenner & Block for allegedly engaging in activities that threaten national security and public interests. The order mandates a review and potential suspension of security clearances for individuals at Jenner, cessation of federal resources and services to the firm, and a review of government contracts involving Jenner. This action could lead to significant legal and political ramifications, as it raises concerns about the balance between governmental oversight and the independence of legal practices, potentially sparking debates over the use of executive power to influence private sector activities.
Full Text
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 13997-13999]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05519]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 59 / Friday, March 28, 2025 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 13997]]
Executive Order 14246 of March 25, 2025
Addressing Risks From Jenner & Block
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Background. My Administration is committed
to addressing the significant risks associated with law
firms, particularly so-called ``Big Law'' firms, that
engage in conduct detrimental to critical American
interests. Many firms take actions that threaten public
safety and national security, limit constitutional
freedoms, degrade the quality of American elections, or
undermine bedrock American principles. Moreover, law
firms regularly conduct this harmful activity through
their powerful pro bono practices, earmarking hundreds
of millions of their clients' dollars for destructive
causes, that often directly or indirectly harm their
own clients. Lawyers and law firms that engage in such
egregious conduct should not have access to our
Nation's secrets, nor should such conduct be subsidized
by Federal taxpayer funds or contracts.
Jenner & Block LLP (Jenner) is yet another law firm
that has abandoned the profession's highest ideals,
condoned partisan ``lawfare,'' and abused its pro bono
practice to engage in activities that undermine justice
and the interests of the United States. For example,
Jenner engages in obvious partisan representations to
achieve political ends, supports attacks against women
and children based on a refusal to accept the
biological reality of sex, and backs the obstruction of
efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing
horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our
borders. Moreover, Jenner discriminates against its
employees based on race and other categories prohibited
by civil rights laws, including through the use of
race-based ``targets.''
In addition, Jenner was ``thrilled'' to re-hire the
unethical Andrew Weissmann after his time engaging in
partisan prosecution as part of Robert Mueller's
entirely unjustified investigation. Andrew Weissmann's
career has been rooted in weaponized government and
abuse of power, including devastating tens of thousands
of American families who worked for the now defunct
Arthur Andersen LLP, only to have his unlawfully
aggressive prosecution overturned by the Supreme Court.
The numerous reports of Weissmann's dishonesty,
including pursuit of nonexistent crimes, bribery to
foreign nationals, and overt demand that the Federal
Government pursue a political agenda against me, is a
concerning indictment of Jenner's values and
priorities.
Sec. 2. Security Clearance Review. (a) The Attorney
General, the Director of National Intelligence, and all
other relevant heads of executive departments and
agencies (agencies) shall immediately take steps
consistent with applicable law to suspend any active
security clearances held by individuals at Jenner
pending a review of whether such clearances are
consistent with the national interest.
(b) The Office of Management and Budget shall
identify all Government goods, property, material, and
services, including Sensitive Compartmented Information
Facilities, provided for the benefit of Jenner. The
heads of agencies providing such material or services
shall, to the extent permitted by law, expeditiously
cease such provision.
Sec. 3. Contracting. (a) To prevent the transfer of
taxpayer dollars to Federal contractors whose earnings
subsidize, among other things, activities that are not
aligned with American interests, including racial
discrimination,
[[Page 13998]]
Government contracting agencies shall, to the extent
permissible by law, require Government contractors to
disclose any business they do with Jenner and whether
that business is related to the subject of the
Government contract.
(b) The heads of agencies shall review all
contracts with Jenner or with entities that disclose
doing business with Jenner under subsection (a) of this
section. To the extent permitted by law, the heads of
agencies shall:
(i) take appropriate steps to terminate any contract, to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation,
for which Jenner has been hired to perform any service; and
(ii) otherwise align their agency funding decisions with the interests of
the citizens of the United States; with the goals and priorities of my
Administration as expressed in executive actions, especially Executive
Order 14147 of January 20, 2025 (Ending the Weaponization of the Federal
Government); and as heads of agencies deem appropriate. Within 30 days of
the date of this order, agencies shall submit to the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget an assessment of contracts with Jenner or with
entities that do business with Jenner effective as of the date of this
order and any actions taken with respect to those contracts in accordance
with this order.
Sec. 4. Racial Discrimination. Nothing in this order
shall be construed to limit the action authorized by
section 4 of Executive Order 14230 of March 6, 2025
(Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP).
Sec. 5. Personnel. (a) The heads of agencies shall, to
the extent permitted by law, provide guidance limiting
official access from Federal Government buildings to
employees of Jenner when such access would threaten the
national security of or otherwise be inconsistent with
the interests of the United States. In addition, the
heads of agencies shall provide guidance limiting
Government employees acting in their official capacity
from engaging with Jenner employees, including but not
limited to Andrew Weissmann, to ensure consistency with
the national security and other interests of the United
States.
(b) Agency officials shall, to the extent permitted
by law, refrain from hiring employees of Jenner,
including but not limited to Andrew Weissmann, absent a
waiver from the head of the agency, made in
consultation with the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management, that such hire will not threaten
the national security of the United States.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
[[Page 13999]]
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 25, 2025.
[FR Doc. 2025-05519
Filed 3-27-25; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P