Former U.S. President Donald Trump has directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to review the conduct of lawyers and law firms that his administration believes have filed frivolous lawsuits or attempted to block his immigration policies, CNN reported.
In a late-night memorandum on Friday, Trump took aim at legal professionals who have opposed him, vowing to impose penalties such as revoking security clearances and canceling federal contracts held by these attorneys and firms.
The memo instructs Bondi to “seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms who engage in frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation” against the U.S. government. Additionally, Bondi is ordered to review legal actions taken against the federal government over the past eight years and recommend further steps, including termination of contracts and reassessment of security clearances.
While the memo primarily targets attorneys involved in immigration-related cases, it remains unclear how the administration will define “improper conduct” or what specific actions would lead to punishment. The directive also calls for filing misconduct complaints against lawyers deemed to have acted against government interests.
Trump’s move intensifies his crackdown on the legal community, and his stance appears to have influenced at least one major law firm into making concessions this week.
“In everything we do, we’re restoring law, restoring order, and restoring public safety in America… and we’re bringing honor and integrity and accountability back to the highest levels of the FBI, the Justice Department, and throughout our government,” the White House stated in a post on X.
The legal community now awaits further developments as Trump’s administration signals a continued effort to challenge those who have opposed it in court.
