Trump Withdraws Order Against Paul Weiss After $40M Legal Pledge

President Donald Trump has withdrawn an executive order aimed at the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison after the firm pledged $40 million in pro bono legal services to assist the administration's initiatives. The original order suspended the firm's federal security clearances and barred its lawyers from accessing government buildings, citing the controversial actions of former partner Mark Pomerantz, who previously led a criminal investigation into Trump. Following a meeting between Trump and Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp, the firm agreed to forgo diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in its hiring practices and to maintain a commitment to represent a variety of political viewpoints. Trump framed the resolution as a reaffirmation of fairness in the justice system, criticizing law firms that make politically motivated hiring decisions. This decision highlights Trump's ongoing scrutiny of law firms that have opposed him politically, with similar actions taken against firms like Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling. The situation underscores the intersection of law, politics, and the influence of financial commitments in shaping legal relationships under the current administration.