Friday, February 20, 2026-Criminal defense lawyers across the country are raising concerns that the U.S. Department of Justice is operating differently than in past years. From charging decisions to plea negotiations, attorneys say federal prosecutors appear to be taking a more aggressive and less predictable approach.
Defense teams report shifts in how cooperation agreements are handled, how white-collar cases are pursued, and how discretion is applied in politically sensitive matters. The sense among many in the legal community is clear: the environment has changed, and it demands faster, sharper responses from defense strategies.
Recent leadership under the U.S. Department of Justice and Merrick Garland has emphasized accountability, public integrity, and enforcement in areas such as corporate crime, public corruption, and national security.
At the same time, critics argue that enforcement priorities appear uneven, with some cases fast-tracked while others stall. Defense lawyers point to increased use of data, expanded task forces, and tighter internal coordination between agencies as evidence that federal investigations are becoming more complex and more resource-intensive than ever before.
For businesses, executives, and individuals under scrutiny, this evolving posture carries real risk. Early intervention, proactive compliance reviews, and rapid-response legal planning are no longer optional—they are essential.
Whether the shift reflects policy recalibration, political pressure, or strategic modernization, one thing is certain: anyone interacting with federal prosecutors must assume heightened scrutiny. The message from defense attorneys is urgent—prepare differently, act sooner, and do not rely on old playbooks in a new enforcement era.
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