Trump halts security clearances of Perkins Coie, cites links to Hillary Clinton
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump suspended the security clearances for employees of Perkins Coie law firm and ordered federal agencies to cancel contracts with the practice by citing its links to his 2016 Democratic political rival, Hillary Clinton.
The order called the firm’s representation “dishonest and dangerous” for hiring Fusion GPS to collect a dossier of critical information about Trump while representing Clinton during the campaign.
“The egregious activity is part of a pattern,” the order said. The order also cited Perkins Coie for working to overturn election laws that required voter identification.
Trump said Thursday it was "an absolute honor to sign" the order.
Perkins Coie called the order "patently unlawful” in a statement and said “we intend to challenge it."
The order was the second Trump has signed against a law firm he views as an adversary. He previously suspended security clearances for lawyers at Covington & Burling who provided free assistance to former special counsel Jack Smith, who secured two indictments against Trump before the charges were dropped because he won the election.
Perkins Coie and Covington are among law firms representing clients suing the Trump administration over executive actions related to immigration, transgender rights and other issues.
The Perkins Coie order called for agencies to require that federal contractors disclose any business with the firm and terminate those contracts. The order also restricted access of the firm’s employees to federal government buildings, to protect U.S. interests and national security.
"Their disrespect for the bedrock principle of equality represents good cause to conclude that they neither have access to our Nation’s secrets nor be deemed responsible stewards of any Federal funds," the order said.
The order also cited Perkins Coie for alleged race- and sex-based discrimination for its diversity, equity and inclusion policies in hiring. Previous Trump orders have eliminated DEI policies in the federal government.
A group headed by prominent anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum sued Perkins Coie in August 2023, alleging its diversity fellowships unlawfully excluded certain people based on their race.
Perkins Coie changed the criteria for its fellowship program two months later and the suit was dropped.