The U.S. Justice Department has abandoned its legal attempt to revive President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting four major law firms—Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, Perkins Coie, and Susman Godfrey. The administration had previously sought to punish these firms for their diversity policies and past legal work for the president’s political rivals by restricting their access to federal buildings and threatening their clients' government contracts. Following rulings from four different federal judges who deemed the orders unconstitutional violations of free speech and the right to counsel, the government missed a key deadline and moved to dismiss its appeals. While some other prominent firms settled with the White House by pledging nearly $1 billion in pro bono services, this withdrawal marks a significant courtroom defeat for the administration and is being hailed by legal experts as a victory for the rule of law and attorney independence.