Susman Godfrey: a fifth order, struck down

Editor's note: a federal court held the order unconstitutional and permanently enjoined it.

A fifth executive order, using the same clearance/access/contract template as the other four, targeted litigation firm Susman Godfrey. The firm sued rather than settle.

Judge Loren AliKhan first granted a temporary restraining order, saying at the April 15, 2025 hearing that the government 'sought to use its immense power to dictate the positions that law firms may or may not take' and that the order was 'based on a personal vendetta' against the firm. On June 27, 2025 she granted summary judgment for Susman Godfrey, concluding that the order 'violates the U.S. Constitution and must be permanently enjoined.'

DOJ moved on March 2, 2026 to drop its appeals in all four litigated cases, then withdrew that motion the next day and asked the D.C. Circuit to overturn the rulings. The consolidated appeal was argued on May 14, 2026.