Missouri's outgoing Attorney General Andrew Bailey, is stepping down to take the role of Deputy Director of the FBI, having carved out a legacy of aggressive legal maneuvering that sharply tilted toward conservative values and viewpoints during his tenure with the Attorney General's Office (AGO). In a statement recapping his achievements since his swearing-in on January 3, 2023, Bailey prides himself on having "restore the rule of law and fight for their freedoms" of Missourians, according to the Attorney General's Office website.
Bailey's office has been particularly active on the national stage, exemplified by several high-profile cases, such as blocking what he termed the "illegal" student loan "SAVE" scheme proposed by the Biden-Harris administration, which he claims saved taxpayers half a trillion dollars. His tenure is also notable for a landmark $24 billion judgment against the Chinese Communist Party, related to the outbreak of COVID-19. Bailey's Attorney General's Office also supported the defense of Senate Bill 49, which banned treatments for transgender children, which his office referred to as "child mutilation," and successfully opposed a federal loan guarantee for the Grain Belt Express, highlighting Bailey's commitment to property rights and taxpayer relief.
Defending constitutional rights has been a key agenda for Bailey, as he positioned Missouri at the forefront of challenges against what he perceived to be government overreach and corporate censorship. His office forced environmental policy reversals, pursued litigation against media and technology companies for alleged censorship and solicitation issues, and sued several entities, including IBM and BlackRock, for policies he suggested were racially and sexually discriminatory. The Attorney General's Office also brought suits against public institutions for DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs that Bailey considered unlawful.
On matters of child and family protection, Bailey's record has been consistent with hardline conservative stances. The Attorney General's Office shut down a St. Louis clinic offering transgender procedures to children without parental consent, and vigorously defended Missouri's pro-life statutes against legal challenges. His tenure saw substantial legal efforts aimed at the Titles IX provisions and healthcare mandates related to gender transition, which Bailey argued imposed costs on taxpayers and infringed on personal liberties. His office also led initiatives for age-verification on adult websites and instituted regulations to limit "child gender interventions."
Firmly standing by the Second Amendment, Bailey's office challenged a number of federal regulations pertaining to firearms. Under his watch, the Attorney General's Office filed suits against the ATF over rules affecting pistol braces and private gun sales and investigated allegations of Big Tech companies silencing lawful speech related to firearms. His office also amplified its support for Missouri's agricultural community, including pushing back against federal environmental regulations deemed harmful to local farmers and ranchers.
In supporting law enforcement and the rule of law, Bailey's AGO maintained integrity in public offices and secured justice for victims while also bolstering the state's law enforcement agencies. These efforts included opposition to federal firearm rules and legal support for local agricultural interests against perceived federal overreach, according to statements obtained by the Attorney General's Office.
