US Senate Confirms John A. Squires as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office

On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed John A. Squires as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

President Donald Trump nominated Squires on March 10, 2025, and the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced his nomination on June 12 with a bipartisan vote of 20–2.

Squires brings decades of intellectual property experience to the role. Most recently a partner at Dilworth Paxson, he has advised on advanced technologies including AI, blockchain, and fintech. His career also includes roles at Gibson Dunn and Perkins Coie, and nearly a decade as Chief IP Counsel at Goldman Sachs (2000–2009).

On June 11, 2025, AIPLA submitted a letter to the Senate in support of Squires’ nomination.