On March 22, 2025, the President issued a memorandum titled “Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court,” directing the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to take aggressive action against attorneys and law firms engaged in unethical or frivolous litigation, especially in cases affecting national security, immigration, public safety, and election integrity. The memorandum cites repeated instances of misconduct—including the misuse of asylum claims and politically motivated lawsuits—as justification for stricter enforcement of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 and professional conduct rules.
The directive calls for sanctions against lawyers filing baseless or deceptive claims, mandates disciplinary referrals for violations, and includes a review of litigation against the federal government over the past eight years. It also proposes potential consequences such as revoking security clearances or terminating federal contracts for attorneys or firms found in violation. According to the memorandum, law firms bear a collective responsibility for ensuring ethical conduct, especially in supervising junior attorneys.