On April 15, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) implemented a new social media policy that significantly restricts employees' online activities related to their government work. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued the directive, which prohibits staff from posting content that could be interpreted as political or damaging to the department’s impartiality.

The policy instructs DOJ employees to avoid using their official titles on social media platforms and to refrain from reposting official department content. Additionally, it bars statements that could prejudice legal cases or heighten condemnation of an accused individual. The directive aims to curb politically charged posts by political appointees, many of whom have used their social media accounts to support President Donald Trump and criticize his opponents.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who assumed his role in March 2025, previously served as President Trump's criminal defense attorney. He played a significant role in defending Trump in both state and federal cases involving hush money and classified documents. Blanche resigned from the law firm Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP to represent Trump before his appointment to the DOJ.

The new social media policy has sparked criticism from former DOJ officials and free speech advocates. Stacey Young, a former Justice Department attorney, labeled the directive a suppression of free speech and an intimidation tool against dissenting career officials. Critics argue that such policies undermine open discourse and may be used to silence opposition within the department.

This directive comes amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to enforce stricter controls over social media use within government agencies. For instance, the Department of Homeland Security recently implemented a policy requiring immigration officials to monitor immigrants’ social media accounts for antisemitic content, citing such content as grounds for denying immigration benefits.

The DOJ's new social media policy represents a significant shift in the department's approach to employee conduct online. While intended to preserve impartiality, the directive has raised important questions about the balance between maintaining neutrality and protecting free speech rights within government institutions.