Jeh Johnson to Exit Paul Weiss, Firm That Struck Deal With Trump

Jeh Johnson, the prominent Democrat and former Homeland Security Secretary, is leaving Paul Weiss months after the law firm reached a deal with the Trump administration to commit $40 million in free legal services on shared causes.

Johnson is taking over as co-chair of Columbia University’s Board of Trustees, the university said Monday. He will officially leave his Paul Weiss partner role on June 30.

“I am retiring from Paul Weiss and intend to devote significant time and energy to Columbia,” Johnson said in a statement. “Paul Weiss has been my private law practice home off and on for over 40 years. I will miss my colleagues there and appreciate the loyalty and support they have shown me over the years.”

Paul Weiss was the first of nine major law firms to strike deals with President Donald Trump, pledging free legal services and committing to abandon “illegal DEI” programs. The firm reached the agreement after Trump issued an executive order targeting Paul Weiss for its ties to a lawyer who investigated the president and its work on a lawsuit against right-wing group Proud Boys.

Johnson, a Columbia Law graduate who ran the Homeland Security Department in the Obama administration, takes the new position as the school is reeling from the Trump administration’s decision to cancel $400 million in federal grants and contracts. The administration said the school hasn’t adequately addressed complaints of antisemitism by Jewish students in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Columbia agreed to ban masks and expand campus police powers in response to demands from the Trump administration. The school said Tuesday it would cut 180 staff jobs as a result of the slashed funding.

“I will work to preserve and promote the greatness and values of our University and will be committed to the welfare and safety of all our students,” Johnson said.

Johnson has been at Paul Weiss since leaving government in 2017 but spent many years at the firm before delving into public service. He became a firm partner in 1993.

“I am incredibly grateful to have been partners with Jeh throughout my career and I thank Jeh immensely for the contributions he has made to the legal profession both inside and outside Paul, Weiss,” Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp said in a statement.