Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared to defy a federal court’s restraining order this week, raising questions about the Trump administration’s compliance with a ruling that temporarily blocks enforcement of one of President Donald Trump’s controversial executive orders targeting a prominent law firm.
The executive order in question, EO 14230, signed by Trump earlier this month, revoked the security clearances of Perkins Coie LLP—a firm with past ties to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the so-called Steele dossier. The order also barred the firm from accessing federal buildings and mandated that government agencies request disclosure from contractors who had done business with Perkins Coie.
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But U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell issued a temporary restraining order last week in favor of the firm, instructing federal agencies to immediately cease enforcement of EO 14230 and rescind any ongoing disclosure requests related to it.
Despite the clear language in the judge’s order, the administration claimed it had identified a legal loophole allowing it to avoid notifying all affected agencies. On Wednesday, Judge Howell responded by issuing a follow-up order directing the government “to immediately issue guidance to all other agencies” subject to the executive action.
Bondi, in response, submitted a memo to the court on Thursday stating that agencies had been notified but also reaffirming the administration’s belief that the executive order is lawful.
“The Executive Branch’s position is that Executive Order 14230 is permissible and that the Court’s order was erroneous,” Bondi wrote. “The government reserves the right to take all necessary and legal actions in response to the ‘dishonest and dangerous’ conduct of Perkins Coie LLP, as set forth in Executive Order 14230.”
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Legal analysts quickly raised alarms about the administration’s stance.
“I don’t think you can simultaneously say to the agencies, ‘The Court told us we are enjoined from enforcing EO 14230, and we are to tell the agencies to rescind any requests under EO 14230, and also we reserve the right to take future actions as set forth in EO 14230’ and be in compliance,” appellate attorney Gabriel Malor wrote on BlueSky.
The clash underscores growing tension between the executive and judicial branches as the Trump administration continues to test legal boundaries surrounding executive authority and court oversight.
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