The U.S. Justice Department attorneys requested a federal judge to lift the court-imposed seal on over 240,000 pages of FBI surveillance records on Martin Luther King Jr. ahead of the originally scheduled date, aligning with an executive order from the Trump administration. This decision was made despite objections from MLK's family and civil rights groups, raising concerns about politically motivated transparency and the potential legacy of state surveillance.

The U.S. Justice Department unveiled a white-collar enforcement plan focusing on trade, tariff, and customs fraud, urging companies to conduct thorough supply chain audits and self-report potential non-compliance. The plan, announced as part of renewed efforts to hold corporations accountable, aims to ensure fair competition and protect the integrity of trade laws.

The Department of Justice has announced a new whistleblower rewards program alongside updated guidance on its Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs. These initiatives, aimed at encouraging voluntary self-disclosure and improved corporate compliance, address risks associated with disruptive technologies including AI, and represent a move to enhance accountability in corporate practices.

On December 18, 2023, the DOJ and FTC issued the final 2023 Merger Guidelines, lowering the presumption threshold for merger illegality and incorporating assessments of labor market impacts. This move aligns with progressive antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration, emphasizing protection of competition and worker rights.

The U.S. Justice Department recently charged police officers from the People’s Republic of China for allegedly using thousands of fake social media accounts to spread propaganda and harass dissidents in the United States—a move aimed at countering digital authoritarianism.

In March 2023, the DOJ announced significant updates to its corporate compliance program guidance, including new pilot programs for compensation incentives and clawbacks, updated policies on data preservation from personal and third-party devices, reinforced diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria for the selection of corporate monitors, and a restructuring of enforcement resources concerning sanctions evasion and export control violations.

An OpenSecrets lobbying profile reveals that in 2023, 334 separate clients actively lobbied the U.S. Department of Justice. This surge in lobbying activity raises concerns over external political pressure and potential regulatory capture, undermining the department's impartiality in law enforcement.

The U.S. Justice Department released a letter addressing Senator Chuck Grassley and a bipartisan group of senators to express its support for eliminating the Lobbying Disclosure Act exemption under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This reform aims to increase transparency in lobbying practices and reduce opaque influences in political affairs.

The U.S. Justice Department announced a new initiative aimed at identifying companies exploiting supply chain disruptions to unjustly increase profits in violation of federal antitrust laws, reinforcing regulatory oversight and fair business practices.

The Department of Justice published comprehensive guidelines detailing procedures for electronic surveillance—including wiretaps, roving interceptions, emergency interceptions, and consensual monitoring. While intended to standardize approvals and safeguard privacy, these detailed protocols outline capabilities that, if misused, could suppress dissent and enable authoritarian overreach.