Skadden Foundation Director Resigns Over Trump $100M Deal

Kathleen Rubenstein, executive director of the Skadden Foundation, resigned in protest over the law firm's $100 million pro bono settlement with President Donald Trump. The deal requires Skadden to fund at least five fellows annually who must represent diverse political views, including conservative ideals, and work on causes favored by the Trump administration such as assisting veterans, promoting fairness in the justice system, and combating antisemitism. Rubenstein, a former Skadden fellow herself, stated her resignation was due to actions she believed would undermine the foundation's mission of supporting public interest law. Her departure is part of broader dissent within major law firms that have made similar agreements with the Trump administration to avoid punitive executive orders. The Skadden Foundation's fellowship program, highly prestigious and competitive, is designed to support recent law graduates in addressing unmet civil legal needs for underserved populations. Rubenstein expressed hope that the foundation will continue to uphold the rule of law and its core values despite these challenges.