President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing the Justice Department to suspend enforcement of a landmark anti-bribery law, marking a significant shift in U.S. efforts to combat international corruption.
The order temporarily halts prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a 1977 law prohibiting U.S. companies from bribing foreign officials. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been instructed to review past enforcement actions and develop new guidelines.
“It’s going to mean a lot more business for America,” Trump said during the Oval Office signing ceremony. The president, who previously called FCPA a “horrible law,” had attempted to strike down the legislation during his first term.
The White House released a factsheet claiming the law creates “an uneven playing field” for American companies competing internationally. According to the document, 26 FCPA-related enforcement actions were filed in 2024, with 31 companies under investigation by year’s end.
Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International strongly criticized the move. “This diminishes – and could pave the way for completely eliminating – the crown jewel in the U.S.’s fight against global corruption,” said Gary Kalman, executive director of Transparency International U.S.
The law has previously led to investigations of major corporations including Goldman Sachs, Glencore, and Walmart. The administration’s new directive calls for “revised, reasonable enforcement guidelines” aimed at reducing barriers for U.S. businesses operating abroad.
The suspension marks a dramatic departure from decades of American leadership in combating international business corruption.
