Official report release or statement from the White House or Department of Justice

Trump Signs Executive Order to Investigate DOJ, SEC, FTC for Weaponization by Previous Administration

Jan 21, 2025, 12:00 AM

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order titled 'Ending the Weaponization of the Federal Government,' aimed at addressing what he describes as the misuse of federal power by the previous administration. The order mandates the Attorney General to investigate actions taken by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the past four years. The investigation will focus on identifying instances where these agencies' conduct may have been contrary to the order's purposes and policies, with a report and recommendations for remedial actions to be submitted to the President. The executive order specifically cites the targeting of individuals who opposed the previous administration's policies, including the jailing of someone for posting a political meme, and the contrasting treatment of over 1,500 January 6 defendants and Black Lives Matter rioters.