DOGE is trying to outsource the US government -- and Trump wants Big Law to make it happen
Source: Salon
DOGE is trying to outsource the US government — and Trump wants Big Law to make it happen
Portia Allen-Kyle
Sat, April 19, 2025 at 7:23 AM EDT·4 min read
The White House has effectively extorted some of America’s most prestigious law firms to provide almost $1 billion in pro bono legal services to the Trump administration. This comes after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., publicly threatened to eliminate entire federal courts if he doesn’t like how they rule. Both of these actions should set off alarms—not just for lawyers, but for anyone who cares about democracy.
Some lawyers and legal analysts insist these agreements are “unenforceable,” or will only advance causes supported by the president, but not actual pro bono services for the government. However, the increased attacks on the integrity and structure of government by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) make it clear that these propositions aren’t mere suggestions. These agreements are an intentional effort to outsource government work in alignment with their efforts to downsize and deconstruct the government. President Trump and his allies want to use big law to conduct government business as their “solution” to laying off thousands of federal working people. They also want to use this to continue their attacks against foundations, universities, civil society organizations and corporations that refuse to comply with their agenda.
To justify their actions, the Trump administration is distorting the meaning of “pro bono,” which traditionally translates as “for the good of the public,” to instead mean “for the good of President Trump’s interests.” People are right that this is abnormal and unheard of, but it’s part of a neo-segregationist power grab aimed at cementing power for the wealthy by destabilizing our government institutions and undermining our democratic system of checks and balances.
Understanding this context forces us to examine the legal profession's influence and responsibility in this moment because lawyers aren’t bystanders, and far too often, our profession has protected power rather than challenged it, whether by defending corporate interests at our expense or embracing “neutrality” as cover for complicity. Lawyers make a choice when they refuse to reject blatantly unconstitutional aims of the neo-segregationist agenda and instead offer legal legitimacy to its work. Historical titans of the profession like Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, Pauli Murray and Clarence Darrow stand out because of their legal prowess and their courage to stand up to power, something that can be uncommon in our profession because many are willing to roll with the punches of oppression for prestige and monetary gain.
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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/news/doge-trying-outsource-us-government-112344031.html
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