Senate Confirms John Squires as USPTO Director 

On September 18, 2025, the United States Senate voted 51-47 to confirm John Squires as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He was confirmed en bloc with 47 other nominees after Senate Republicans voted to change the chamber’s rules to more easily confirm President Trump’s sub-cabinet nominees.

President Trump nominated Squires in March 2025. Squires has an extensive background in both patent litigation and prosecution and has focused much of his career on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and cryptocurrency, and fintech. His most recent position was chair of the Emerging Companies and IP practice at Dilworth Paxson, LLP, which he held from 2017-2025.

Squires’ nomination generally has progressed smoothly. His May 2025 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused largely on pending legislative patent reform efforts and the USPTO’s role in supporting U.S. competitiveness in the global market. In his opening statement, he struck a bullish note on AI, arguing that AI tools can equip the Office's examiner corps with the tools it needs to expeditiously issue patents of “provable quality.” He cleared the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2 in June.

After being sworn in, Squires will take over at the USPTO from Coke Morgan Stewart, who has served as Acting Director since January 2025. Major initiatives during Stewart’s term included a return-to-office mandate for USPTO employees and a new process for institution decisions in post-grant proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

While it’s too early to state with certainty what Squires’ priorities will be, he has expressed consternation with the USPTO’s backlog of patent applications, voiced support for patent eligibility reform, and advocated for leaning into AI in patent examination, all of which provide clues as to the direction he intends to take the Office.

With geopolitical competition for innovation on the rise and AI poised to potentially reshape the global economy, Squires assumes leadership of the USPTO at a critical juncture. We wish him every success and look forward to working together to advance the USPTO’s mission of driving U.S. innovation and global competitiveness.