Addressing Remedial Action by Paul Weiss
Signed: March 21, 2025
Published: March 26, 2025
Document Number: 2025-05291
📋Summary
This executive order revokes a prior order (Executive Order 14237) that had addressed “risks” related to the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, after the firm said it would change its policies and approach. It primarily affects Paul Weiss and, indirectly, any federal agencies that would have been carrying out actions under the earlier order. The order cites Paul Weiss’s stated commitments, including political neutrality in client selection and hiring, taking pro bono cases across the political spectrum, shifting to merit-based employment practices rather than DEI policies, and providing the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services during the President’s term for causes such as veterans’ assistance, fairness in the justice system, and combating antisemitism. It also clarifies that it does not change existing legal authority of agencies, depends on available funding, and does not create enforceable legal rights for private parties.
💼Business Impact
This order primarily affects **law firms and government contractors** that rely on politically sensitive legal services, because it **revokes EO 14237** and signals that federal scrutiny or restrictions tied to using Paul Weiss may be lifted, reducing near-term disruption for clients in regulated sectors (finance, tech, healthcare, defense) that use large firms for investigations, enforcement defense, and compliance. While it imposes **no direct compliance duties on other businesses**, it creates an opportunity (and a risk) around **vendor governance**: companies should expect more attention to outside counsel policies on **political neutrality, merit-based hiring, and pro bono commitments**, and should be ready for questions from boards, employees, and counterparties about why a particular firm is being retained. Immediate actions: **(1)** confirm with procurement/legal whether any internal “do-not-use” guidance tied to EO 14237 should be updated, **(2)** reassess outside-counsel engagement letters and RFP criteria to ensure they align with your company’s values and federal-facing risk posture, and **(3)** if you have federal contracts or high public visibility, prepare a short communications/Q&A explaining your counsel-selection rationale in case stakeholders raise concerns.
Full Text
Executive Order 14244 of March 21, 2025
Addressing Remedial Action by Paul Weiss
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. On March 14, 2025, I signed Executive Order 14237 (Addressing Risks from Paul Weiss) to address certain issues related to Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (Paul Weiss). I noted that “[g]lobal law firms have for years played an outsized role in undermining the judicial process and in the destruction of bedrock American principles.” Paul Weiss is one of many law firms that have participated in this harmful activity.
Earlier this week, though, Paul Weiss indicated that it will engage in a remarkable change of course. Specifically, Paul Weiss has acknowledged the wrongdoing of its former partner Mark Pomerantz, and it has agreed to a number of policy changes to promote equality, justice, and the principles that keep our Nation strong, including: adopting a policy of political neutrality with respect to client selection and attorney hiring; taking on a wide range of pro bono matters representing the full political spectrum; committing to merit-based hiring, promotion, and retention, instead of “diversity, equity, and inclusion” policies; dedicating the equivalent of $40 million in pro bono legal services during my term in office to support causes including assisting our Nation's veterans, fairness in the justice system, and combating anti-Semitism; and other similar initiatives.
This development should give Americans hope. 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.
Sec. 2 . Revocation I hereby revoke Executive Order 14237 of March 14, 2025 (Addressing Risks from Paul Weiss).
Sec. 3 . 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.
( printed page 13686)(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.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 21, 2025.