Trump Orders Target Law Firms, Stir Clearance Fears \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Trump’s executive orders aimed at law firms linked to past investigations have raised fears that military reservists could lose their security clearances. Critics warn the broad language of the orders risks unintended harm to national security. While court challenges are underway, the clearance provisions remain active and controversial.
Legal Orders and Security Clearances – Quick Looks
- National Security Justification: Trump says orders protect sensitive government information from compromised firms.
- Broad Impact: Critics say the language is so expansive it could harm military reservists.
- Law Firms Targeted: Orders focus on firms tied to Trump investigations or political opponents.
- Security Clearance Risk: Reservists working at targeted firms could be barred from fulfilling duties.
- Court Challenges Mount: Firms like WilmerHale and Perkins Coie have won partial injunctions.
- Presidential Power Prevails: Clearance suspensions remain intact due to broad executive authority.
- Uncertain Future: White House offers little clarity on reservist exemptions.
- Military Readiness at Risk: Some reservists may be unable to report for classified duties.
- Legal Experts Sound Alarm: National security lawyers warn of long-term procedural complications.
- Quiet Reassurances Possible: Experts speculate informal White House guidance may spare reservists.
Deep Look
In a sweeping move that’s prompted alarm among legal experts and military advocates, President Donald Trump has issued executive orders targeting prominent law firms, claiming national security concerns while sparking controversy over the potential revocation of security clearances—particularly those held by military reservists employed at these firms.
Trump’s administration asserts that the orders are necessary to protect classified government information from reaching firms allegedly entangled in politically motivated activities or linked to previous legal investigations involving the president. Yet critics argue the breadth of the orders is dangerously overreaching, with the potential to unintentionally undermine military readiness by targeting lawyers who serve as reservists in the armed forces.
“Reciprocal means ‘they do it to us and we do it to them,’” Trump said during the announcement, framing the executive actions as retaliation against perceived political adversaries.
The affected firms include WilmerHale, Perkins Coie, and others—many of which have previously employed or represented attorneys involved in legal actions against Trump or that he deems politically hostile. The executive orders carry a consistent threat: the suspension of active security clearances held by employees at these firms, regardless of whether the individuals are directly involved in the activities that sparked the White House’s ire.
Security clearances are a prerequisite for accessing classified national security materials, and are essential for many government contractors, legal consultants, and military reservists, who must maintain these credentials to fulfill their service obligations. But under Trump’s new directive, entire firms risk being penalized collectively, without regard for individual roles or clearances.
During a court hearing on Friday, Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general and now attorney for WilmerHale, warned that the executive orders could directly affect military lawyers set to report for duty.
“Two of those lawyers have to report for their reserve duty next week,” Clement said.
“Now, I can’t tell you for sure that they’re going to show up and not be able to do their job because their security clearance has been suspended.”
He criticized the government’s approach as lacking nuance:
“They aren’t distinguishing sheep from goats at all.”
Although several law firms have successfully obtained temporary injunctions blocking enforcement of portions of the orders, the security clearance provisions remain in force. That’s due in part to the broad authority presidents wield over classification and clearance decisions, making such moves difficult to challenge in court.
A White House spokesperson, when asked whether reservists would be affected, cited the orders’ language that clearances are to be suspended “pending a review of whether such clearances are consistent with the national interest.” This ambiguous phrasing leaves room for interpretation—and potential informal exceptions—but no guarantees.
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the topic, about six WilmerHale employees are known to be military reservists. At Perkins Coie, similar concerns have been raised regarding employees who could lose their ability to perform essential military tasks.
Dan Meyer, a national security attorney with the firm Tully Rinckey, said it’s possible the administration may quietly back off enforcement against reservists to avoid public backlash.
“It may be that word will go quietly from the White House, ‘Don’t screw with any of these reservists at these law firms,’” he said.
“But,” he added, “if the cat wants to claw the mouse, there’s an opportunity to do it.”
Meyer also noted that while the number of impacted reservists may be small, the precedent of using clearance revocation as a political tool could have chilling effects across the legal profession, especially for those who balance public service with private-sector work.
The executive orders are part of Trump’s broader effort to reshape civil society, often through sweeping directives that disproportionately impact government agencies, legal institutions, and public sector workers. Military veterans and reservists—long viewed as politically neutral actors—are now finding themselves caught in the political crossfire.
While legal challenges to the orders are ongoing, experts agree that the legal system may have limited recourse, given the constitutional latitude presidents possess on national security matters. In the meantime, the threat of suspended security clearances looms over both law firm employees and their clients, leaving firms scrambling for answers—and reservists uncertain whether they can legally do their jobs.
Trump Orders Target
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