Ending the Militarization of the Federal Government – ​​The White House

Pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, and by section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is ordered that which follows:

Section 1. Purpose. The American people saw the previous administration engage in a systematic campaign against its perceived political opponents, using the legal force of numerous federal law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community against these perceived political opponents under the form of investigations, prosecutions, civil actions. and other related actions. These actions appear more geared toward inflicting political pain than pursuing true justice or legitimate government goals. Many of these activities appear to be inconsistent with the Constitution and/or laws of the United States, including those directed against parents who protested at school board meetings, against Americans who spoke out against the actions of the previous administration and against other Americans who were simply exercising constitutionally protected rights.

The previous administration and its allies across the country engaged in an unprecedented, third-world weaponization of prosecutorial power to upend the democratic process. It targeted individuals who had expressed opposition to the previous administration’s policies through numerous federal investigations and politically motivated funding revocations, which cost Americans access to needed services. The Justice Department even jailed an individual for posting a political meme. And while the Justice Department has ruthlessly prosecuted more than 1,500 people associated with the January 6 attacks, and simultaneously dropped almost all charges against the BLM rioters.

Therefore, this order establishes a process to ensure accountability for the previous administration’s militarization of the federal government against the American people.

Second. 2. Politics. It is the policy of the United States to identify and take appropriate action to correct past federal misconduct related to the militarization of law enforcement and the militarization of the intelligence community.

Second. 3. End the militarization of the federal government. (a) The Attorney General, in consultation with the heads of all departments and agencies of the United States, shall take appropriate action to review the activities of all departments and agencies exercising civil or criminal authority of the United States, including including, but not limited to, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission, over the past 4 years and identify any instances where the conduct of a department or agency appears to have been contrary to the purposes and policies of this Order, and prepare a report for submission to the President, through the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Advisor to the President, with recommendations on appropriate corrective actions to be taken to achieve the objectives and policies of this Order.

(b) The Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the heads of relevant departments and agencies within the intelligence community, will take all appropriate steps to review the activities of the intelligence community over the past 4 years and identify any cases where intelligence community conduct appears to have been contrary to the objectives and policies of this order, and prepare a report for submission to the President, through the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Advisor to national security, with recommendations on appropriate corrective measures to take. to fulfill the purposes and policies of this order. The term “Intelligence Community” has the meaning given to it in section 3003 of title 50, United States Code.

(c) As part of these policies, departments and agencies must comply with document retention policies and applicable legal obligations. Failure to comply with record retention policies or legal requirements will be reported to the Attorney General.

Second. 4. General provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed as impairing or otherwise affecting:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or to its head; Or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative or legislative proposals.

(b) This Order will be implemented in accordance with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to and does not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies or entities, its officers, employees. , or agents, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

January 20, 2025.