Trump's most recent executive order targets WilmerHale.
Credit: Ethan Young1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday targeting WilmerHale, a white-shoe law firm that Penn has hired for counsel on numerous lawsuits and investigations.
The March 27 action against WilmerHale — where former FBI Director Robert Mueller once worked — outlined the immediate suspension of all active security clearances held by WilmerHale employees, restricted the firm's access to federal buildings, and suspended its government contracts. It is the latest in a series of moves taken by Trump against law firms that have previously launched investigations into his actions.
The law firm helped former Penn President Liz Magill prepare for her congressional testimony on antisemitism at Penn before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The firm also advised former Harvard President Claudine Gay ahead of the same congressional hearing, where her testimony — like Magill’s — sparked widespread backlash. Both presidents resigned from their positions shortly after the hearing.
WilmerHale has also represented Penn in a class-action lawsuit alleging that the University and 16 other private institutions colluded to reduce need-based financial aid, as well as a lawsuit brought about by two Penn students alleging that the University responded inadequately to instances of antisemitism on campus.
The executive order criticized the firm for hiring Mueller, who launched a special counsel investigation into Trump’s involvement in alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Mueller’s investigation did not find evidence that the Trump administration conspired with the Russian government.
“WilmerHale rewarded Robert Mueller and his colleagues … by welcoming them to the firm after they wielded the power of the Federal Government to lead one of the most partisan investigations in American history,” the executive order read. “Mueller’s investigation epitomizes the weaponization of government, yet WilmerHale claimed he ‘embodies the highest value of our firm and profession.’”
The order also accused WilmerHale of “abandon[ing] the profession’s highest ideals” and “abus[ing] its pro bono practice to engage in activities that undermine justice and the interests of the United States.”
Agency heads were ordered to review and terminate all government contracts with WilmerHale as well as any entities that do business with the law firm “to prevent the transfer of taxpayer dollars” to federal contractors whose activities don't align with the Trump administration’s priorities.
“WilmerHale engages in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends, supports efforts to discriminate on the basis of race, backs the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our borders, and furthers the degradation of the quality of American elections, including by supporting efforts designed to enable noncitizens to vote,” the order stated.
A WilmerHale spokesperson said that the firm was aware of Trump’s order and that the order was similar to others that had been blocked by federal judges.
“Our firm has a longstanding tradition of representing a wide range of clients, including in matters against administrations of both parties,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “The Executive Order references Robert Mueller, who retired from our firm in 2021 and had a long, distinguished career in public service, from his time as a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam to his leadership of the FBI in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks.”
The order also instructed the heads of government agencies to restrict WilmerHale employees from engaging with government officials.
Agency officials were ordered to avoid hiring employees from the law firm unless granted a waiver from the head of the agency and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management confirming that the hire does not pose a national security risk.
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