(TheLastPatriotNews.com) – In a questionable move, President Donald Trump has practically greenlit bribery by issuing an executive order to pause the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), drawing ire from critics but applause from advocates of American businesses.
See the tweet below!
This order targets a law that has long held U.S. companies at a disadvantage internationally.
Trump’s order temporarily halts the enforcement of the FCPA, a law designed to prevent bribery of foreign officials by American businesses.
The law, enacted in 1977, serves as a cornerstone of U.S. anti-corruption strategy.
Under the new executive order, Attorney General Pam Bondi will pause criminal prosecutions under the FCPA and review past actions taken by the Department of Justice.
The Trump administration argues that the FCPA harms American businesses by prohibiting certain practices, thereby creating an uneven playing field against international companies.
Trump, who has previously criticized the law as a “horrible law,” aims to rectify this imbalance.
By enforcing new guidelines for the FCPA, the White House hopes to restore U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
The FCPA, expanded in 1998, prohibits both U.S.-linked entities and foreign companies from offering bribes to gain business advantages.
Although this law is designed to curb corruption, many argue it puts American businesses at an economic disadvantage.
According to the administration, “U.S. companies are harmed by FCPA overenforcement because they are prohibited from engaging in practices common among international competitors, creating an uneven playing field.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi will be directed to prepare new guidelines on FCPA enforcement, ensuring future investigations align with national security interests.
With 26 FCPA-related enforcement actions filed in 2024, the executive order pauses to reassess these investigations.
A White House official confirmed the order’s aim is to “align the FCPA with economic interests and national security.”
🚨BREAKING🚨: Trump directs the Justice Dept. to pause enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), halting actions against U.S. companies accused of bribing foreign officials 🏛️. The pause will last until new guidelines are issued to keep U.S. companies competitive…
— People's World Report (@pplworldreport) February 10, 2025
This decision could personally benefit Trump by allowing his organization to engage more freely with foreign businesses without the constraints previously imposed by the FCPA.
The Trump Organization has already announced plans to lift its ban on deals with foreign companies.
There is also ongoing discussion about reclaiming the lease on Trump’s former Washington, D.C., hotel, once a hub for foreign government spending.
“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,” reads a White House fact sheet, cited by AOL.
In Trump’s view, this move is about leveling the playing field and ensuring national security is in tandem with economic interests.
Critics may cry foul, but for American businesses seeking to compete globally, this might be a welcome change.
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