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ARTICLE · 23 JUNE 2025

DOJ Civil Division Issues Enforcement Priorities Memorandum

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On June 11, 2025, the recently confirmed Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, Brett Shumate, issued a memorandum directing Civil Division lawyers to prioritize investigations and enforcement actions...

United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
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Brian Boynton
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David Ogden
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Debo Adegbile
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Christopher Babbitt
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On June 11, 2025, the recently confirmed Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, Brett Shumate, issued a memorandum directing Civil Division lawyers to prioritize investigations and enforcement actions advancing certain specified objectives. The "Civil Division Enforcement Priorities" memorandum identifies five priorities: (1) combatting discriminatory practices and policies, (2) ending antisemitism, (3) protecting women and children, (4) ending "sanctuary" jurisdictions, and (5) prioritizing denaturalization of naturalized U.S. citizens. The memorandum is notable and unusual in multiple respects.

The first priority—combating discrimination—is noteworthy because the Department of Justice's regulations assign to the Civil Rights Division, not the Civil Division, primary authority for "[e]nforcement of all Federal statutes affecting civil rights." 28 C.F.R. 0.50(a). It is unusual for the Civil Division to rank civil rights enforcement as its top priority.

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