U.S. President, Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Justice Department to suspend prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977, which criminalizes bribing foreign officials to secure business deals.
The order, signed on Monday, mandates Attorney General Pam Bondi to pause FCPA enforcement until she issues revised guidelines aimed at boosting American competitiveness.
“Future FCPA investigations and enforcement actions will be governed by this new guidance and must be approved by the attorney general,” the executive order stated.
According to the White House, the FCPA places U.S. firms at a disadvantage compared to international competitors, as it prohibits business practices that are common globally.
Officials argue that excessive enforcement undermines national security by limiting American companies’ ability to gain strategic commercial advantages.
“American national security depends on America and its companies gaining strategic commercial advantages around the world, and President Trump is stopping excessive, unpredictable FCPA enforcement that makes American companies less competitive,” a White House factsheet cited by Reuters stated.
However, Transparency International, an anti-corruption watchdog, criticized the decision, warning that it could weaken the country’s global leadership in fighting corruption.
The organization stressed that the FCPA has been instrumental in holding companies accountable for unethical business practices.
Trump’s executive order marks a significant shift in U.S. anti-corruption policy, with potential implications for corporate accountability and international business ethics. Legal experts warn that pausing FCPA enforcement may lead to increased corporate misconduct worldwide.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
