President Donald Trump has escalated his attacks on the legal community, issuing a new directive that empowers Attorney General Pam Bondi to sanction lawyers and law firms engaged in what he calls “frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation” against the federal government. The memo threatens disciplinary actions — including revoked security clearances and canceled federal contracts — against firms Trump believes have wronged him, with enforcement stretching back eight years.
This move follows recent high-profile retributions against firms like Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, and Paul Weiss, with Trump punishing them for past legal work involving investigations or litigation tied to his presidency. The administration is now using the Department of Justice to enforce what critics describe as politically motivated penalties on the legal profession.
Legal experts and attorneys have expressed concern that the order undermines judicial independence and signals a dangerous politicization of the legal system. Trump’s memo singles out prominent Democratic lawyer Marc Elias and criticizes pro bono practices that support asylum-seekers, accusing firms of coaching clients to “lie” on asylum claims.
This marks a turning point in Trump’s broader campaign against institutions he views as hostile, with lawyers now at the center of his efforts to reshape the legal landscape to his favor.