Addressing Risks From Susman Godfrey

Executive Order 14263 of April 9, 2025

Addressing Risks From Susman Godfrey

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Background. Lawyers and law firms that
engage in activities detrimental to critical American
interests should not have access to our Nation's
secrets, nor should their conduct be subsidized by
Federal taxpayer funds or contracts. My Administration
must also take appropriate and necessary measures to
guard against the actual, potential, or perceived
conflicts of interest that arise when the Government
funds, engages with, or otherwise devotes resources to
law firms and their clients that engage in conduct
undermining critical American interests and priorities.

I have determined that action is necessary to address
the significant risks, egregious conduct, and conflicts
of interest associated with Susman Godfrey LLP
(Susman). Susman spearheads efforts to weaponize the
American legal system and degrade the quality of
American elections. Susman also funds groups that
engage in dangerous efforts to undermine the
effectiveness of the United States military through the
injection of political and radical ideology, and it
supports efforts to discriminate on the basis of race.

Susman itself engages in unlawful discrimination,
including discrimination on the basis of race. For
example, Susman administers a program where it offers
financial awards and employment opportunities only to
“students of color.” My Administration is committed
to ending such unlawful discrimination perpetrated in
the name of “diversity, equity, and inclusion”
policies and ensuring that Federal benefits support the
laws and policies of the United States, including those
laws and policies promoting our national security and
respecting the democratic process. Those who engage in
blatant discrimination and other activities
inconsistent with the interests of the United States
should not have access to our Nation's secrets nor be
deemed responsible stewards of any Federal funds.

Sec. 2. Security Clearance Review. (a) The Attorney
General, the Director of National Intelligence, and all
other relevant heads of executive departments and
agencies (agencies) shall immediately take steps
consistent with applicable law to suspend any active
security clearances held by individuals at Susman,
pending a review of whether such clearances are
consistent with the national interest.

    (b) The Office of Management and Budget shall
identify all Government goods, property, material, and
services, including Sensitive Compartmented Information
Facilities, provided for the benefit of Susman. The
heads of agencies providing such material or services
shall, to the extent permitted by law, expeditiously
cease such provision.

Sec. 3. Contracting. (a) To prevent the transfer of
taxpayer dollars to Federal contractors whose earnings
subsidize, among other things, activities that are not
aligned with American interests, including racial
discrimination, Government contracting agencies shall,
to the extent permissible by law, require Government
contractors to disclose any business they do with
Susman and whether that business is related to the
subject of the Government contract.

    (b) The heads of agencies shall review all
contracts with Susman or with entities that disclose
doing business with Susman under subsection (a) of this
section. To the extent permitted by law, the heads of
agencies shall:

(i) take appropriate steps to terminate any contract, to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation,
for which Susman has been hired to perform any service; and

(ii) otherwise align their agency funding decisions with the interests of
the citizens of the United States; with the goals and priorities of my
Administration as expressed in executive actions, especially Executive
Order 14147 of January 20, 2025 (Ending the Weaponization of the Federal
Government); and as heads of agencies deem appropriate. Within 30 days of
the date of this order, agencies shall submit to the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget an assessment of contracts with Susman or with
entities that do business with Susman effective as of the date of this
order and any actions taken with respect to those contracts in accordance
with this order.

Sec. 4. Racial Discrimination. Nothing in this order
shall be construed to limit the action authorized by
section 4 of Executive Order 14230 of March 6, 2025
(Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP).

Sec. 5. Personnel. (a) The heads of agencies shall, to
the extent permitted by law, provide guidance limiting
official access from Federal Government buildings to
employees of Susman when such access would threaten the
national security of or otherwise be inconsistent with
the interests of the United States. In addition, the
heads of agencies shall provide guidance limiting
Government employees acting in their official capacity
from engaging with Susman employees to ensure
consistency with the national security and other
interests of the United States.

    (b) Agency officials shall, to the extent permitted
by law, refrain from hiring employees of Susman, absent
a waiver from the head of the agency, made in
consultation with the Director of the Office of
Personnel Management, that such hire will not threaten
the national security of the United States.

Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.

    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 9, 2025.