Trump Pauses Enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

On February 10, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to pause new investigations and enforcement actions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for 180 days, marking the first enforcement pause since the anti-bribery law was enacted in 1977. The order also directed the Attorney General to review pending cases and issue revised enforcement guidance.

The White House framed the pause as restoring American business competitiveness, arguing that expansive FCPA enforcement had put U.S. companies at a disadvantage against foreign competitors not bound by similar anti-bribery rules. The order allowed exceptions where the Attorney General determined continued enforcement was warranted.

Anti-corruption advocates warned that even a temporary halt weakens deterrence and signals reduced scrutiny to companies operating abroad, since investigations that stall during a pause can lose momentum permanently. The FCPA itself remained in force and bribery remained illegal, but critics said the pause reflected a broader deregulatory posture that treated compliance obligations as burdens rather than safeguards.