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Aaron Reitz

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Aaron F. Reitz
Official portrait, 2020
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 31, 2025
PresidentDonald J. Trump
Preceded bySusan M. Davies (acting)
Personal details
BornMay 22, 1987 (age 37)
Political partyRepublican
EducationTexas A&M University (BS)
University of Texas School of Law (JD)
OccupationAttorney
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/service
Years of service2009-Present
RankMajor
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan

Aaron Francis Reitz (born May 22, 1987) is an American attorney who serves as the Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice's Office of Legal Policy. He previously served as the Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Cruz and Deputy Attorney General in the Texas AG’s office. As head of OLP, his mission is "to develop and implement the Department's significant policy initiatives, handle special projects that implicate the interests of multiple Department components, coordinate with other interested Department components and other Executive Branch agencies, and serve as the primary policy advisor to the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General."[1]

Early life and education

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Reitz was born on May 22, 1987[where?].[2] He moved to San Antonio, Texas in 2000 and attended Barbara Bush Middle School and Ronald Reagan High School. In 2009, he graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. While at A&M, Reitz was a member of the Corps of Cadets, achieving the rank of Cadet Colonel. He was a recipient of a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship. In 2017, he graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with a Juris Doctor.[2]

Career

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After graduating from Texas A&M University, Reitz commissioned as a United States Marine Corps Officer and served in active duty for nearly five years.[3] During his active duty, Reitz deployed to the Helmand Province, Afghanistan.[4] Reitz is currently a Major in Marine Corps Reserve, having earned the rank of Major in September 2020.[2] From 2017 to 2018, Reitz worked as an associate attorney at Bracewell LLP in Houston, Texas.[2] Reitz then clerked for Justice Jimmy Blacklock on the Supreme Court of Texas.[3]

From 2020 to 2023, Reitz served as the Deputy Attorney General for Legal Strategy in the Office of the Texas Attorney General.[2] In that role, Reitz was Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's "offensive coordinator"—planning, staffing, and executing Attorney General Paxton's lawsuits and legal initiatives, including those related to securing the border, protecting energy and agriculture jobs, ensuring reliable and transparent elections, holding Big Tech and woke corporations accountable, stopping Covid-19 regulatory abuse, curtailing the Department of Justice's illegal overreach, and defending religious liberty and gun rights.[5] Reitz's resignation letter from the Texas Attorney General's Office also highlighted the work he oversaw protecting unborn children following the US Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, pushing back against LGBTQ activists, and reinvigorating federalism.[6] During this time, Reitz was also a Senior Advisor on Ken Paxton's 2022 re-election campaign.

Reitz then continued his public service as Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Cruz.[7] On the floor of the Senate in support of Reitz's confirmation, Senator Cruz shared his opinion that, "throughout his career, whether in law, government, or the battlefield, Aaron has earned the respect and admiration of all who have had the privilege of working with him."[4] As Senator Cruz's chief of staff, Reitz stood out for his ability "to build consensus, unite people, and navigate complex situations with poise and effectiveness."[4] Reitz’s nomination received praise from those who had worked with him during his legal career. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton explained that Reitz "is a strong conservative leader", "fearless defender of the Constitution", and "played a key role in stopping the Biden Administration's lawless policies."[8] In all these pursuits, Paxton recognized that Reitz served with "integrity" and has a deep "commitment to the rule of law and our nation’s founding principles."[9] The U.S. Senate confirmed Reitz by a vote of 52-46 on March 26, 2025.[10] Upon Reitz's confirmation, Democratic Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin described Reitz as "a danger to the rule of law" and was "appalled" at his alignment with the Trump Administration.[11]

He was sworn in by Attorney General Pam Bondi on March 31, 2025.[9] As the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy, Reitz has "authority to direct the administration's selection of federal judges and coordinate legal fights on cultural issues."[12] Moreover, "[t]he principal responsibilities of the Office shall be to plan, develop, and coordinate the implementation of major policy initiatives of high priority to the Department and to the Administration."[13]

Personal life

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Reitz is married to his high school sweetheart, Meredith.[3] Reitz and Meredith have four children. Reitz and his family reside in Austin, Texas.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Office of Legal Policy". 2 March 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Questionnaire for Non-Judicial Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "Aaron Reitz, Chief of Staff, Senator Ted Cruz, United States Senate". The Federalist Society. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Cruz, Ted (March 26, 2025). "X". Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  5. ^ "Deputy for Legal Strategy Aaron Reitz Departs Attorney General's Office to Serve as U.S. Senator's Chief of Staff". May 2, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  6. ^ Reitz, Aaron (April 26, 2023). "Aaron Reitz's Departure Letter" (PDF). Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  7. ^ "Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy". 2 April 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  8. ^ Paxton, Ken (March 31, 2025). "X". Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Paxton, Ken (March 31, 2025). "Press Release: Attorney General Ken Paxton Congratulates Aaron Reitz on Being Sworn in as Assistant Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice". Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  10. ^ "PN12-37 — Aaron Reitz — Department of Justice". 26 March 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  11. ^ Durbin, Dick (March 27, 2025). "Press Release: Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Aaron Reitz, Trump's Pick To Be Assistant AG For The Office Of Legal Policy". Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  12. ^ Osborne, James (March 27, 2025). "Former Paxton, Cruz staffer taking DOJ post has long fought against DEI, abortion and immigration". Houston Chronicle.
  13. ^ Code of Federal Regulations. Title 28—Judicial Administration. Chapter I—Department of Justice. Part 0—Organization of the Department of Justice. Subpart D-2—Office of Legal Policy. (28CFR §0.23 - General functions).
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