Labor Department Prohibits ABA Engagement
The Department of Labor’s top lawyer has directed staff to stop engaging with the American Bar Association (ABA) in their official roles. In an email sent Monday, Trump-appointed Solicitor Jonathan Berry instructed the department’s attorneys not to use taxpayer funds to attend ABA events or identify themselves as federal employees at such gatherings.
Berry described the ABA as taking “decidedly radical ideological positions” at times while presenting itself as neutral at others, warning that federal involvement would only enhance the organization’s influence.
ABA Criticized for Political Activism
The ABA, the nation’s largest association of lawyers, has frequently supported policies aligned with Democratic priorities. Its initiatives include backing LGBTQ+ rights, abortion access, stricter gun control, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The organization has also publicly criticized former President Donald Trump, calling some of his administration’s policies a “wide-scale affront to the rule of law.”
Beyond activism, the ABA has influence over federal judicial nominations, law school accreditation, and hiring practices across the legal industry.
Trump Administration Targets ABA Influence
Berry’s directive mirrors past moves by the Trump administration to curb the ABA’s power. The Department of Justice halted the practice of informing the ABA about judicial nominees in advance, preventing the group from issuing ratings. The administration also terminated millions in federal grants to ABA programs, though a judge later ruled this action unconstitutional. Similarly, the Federal Trade Commission cut ties with the ABA’s antitrust arm, citing its alignment with Big Tech interests.
Implications for Federal Lawyers and Legal Industry
Berry noted that while engagement with ABA programs can provide value to attorneys, it also boosts the organization’s stature and indirectly supports its activist goals. “Our participation in ‘neutral’ ABA events contributes to institutional stature the ABA leverages to advance radical goals as if they were ‘neutral,’” he wrote. “No more.”
The directive signals a broader effort by the Trump-era Labor Department to limit federal interaction with organizations it views as politically biased, raising questions about future federal engagement with professional associations.
