Addressing Risks From Paul Weiss
The order directs federal agencies to suspend security clearances held by Paul Weiss employees, terminate government contracts involving the firm, restrict the firm's access to federal buildings, and bar agencies from hiring its employees without a waiver.
It is one of a series of executive orders targeting specific law firms the administration identifies as acting against American interests, citing the firm's prior legal work and internal diversity practices.
What this order does
What it orders
The order directs the Attorney General, Director of National Intelligence, and all relevant agency heads to immediately suspend security clearances held by Paul Weiss employees and by attorney Mark Pomerantz, pending a national-interest review. It directs OMB to identify all government goods, services, and facilities — including secure facilities — provided to the firm and requires agencies to stop providing them. Government contracting agencies must require contractors to disclose any business they do with Paul Weiss, and agency heads must review and, to the extent permitted by law, terminate contracts tied to the firm. Agencies must also restrict Paul Weiss employees' access to federal buildings and refrain from hiring them without a waiver.
All agencies must submit a contract-assessment report to the OMB Director within 30 days. The order explicitly preserves the racial-discrimination enforcement action authorized in Executive Order 14230, which targeted Perkins Coie LLP. Each directive is qualified with "to the extent permitted by law," and the order creates no enforceable legal rights for any party.
Who it affects
Attorneys and staff at Paul Weiss who hold federal security clearances, federal agencies that contract with or provide facilities to the firm, private-sector companies doing business with Paul Weiss that also hold government contracts, and attorney Mark Pomerantz individually.
Why it matters
Paul Weiss lawyers holding security clearances could lose access to classified work immediately. Federal contractors who use Paul Weiss as outside counsel face a disclosure requirement and potential contract review. The firm loses access to federal buildings and cannot be hired by agencies without a senior waiver.
What must happen and when
How the order is supposed to work
Security clearance suspensions take effect immediately upon the order. OMB identifies affected government-provided goods and facilities, and agencies must cease providing them expeditiously. Contracting agencies add a disclosure requirement to contracts; agency heads then review flagged contracts and initiate termination proceedings under the Federal Acquisition Regulation where possible. Each agency must submit a written contract assessment to the OMB Director within 30 days. Personnel access restrictions are issued as agency-level guidance. Every operative step is qualified by "to the extent permitted by law," leaving enforcement ultimately dependent on agency discretion and potential litigation.
Actions and deadlines
- Suspend security clearances held by Paul Weiss employees and Mark Pomerantz pending national-interest review
- Identify all government goods, property, materials, and services provided for the benefit of Paul Weiss
- Cease providing government goods, services, and facilities to Paul Weiss
- Require government contractors to disclose business relationships with Paul Weiss
- Review and, where permitted by law, terminate contracts involving Paul Weiss
- Submit to the OMB Director an assessment of contracts with Paul Weiss and actions taken under this order
- Issue guidance limiting Paul Weiss employee access to federal buildings and restricting official government engagement with the firm