Pausing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement To Further American Economic and National Security

2025-02-14Executive Order 14209
Signed by: Donald Trump
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Headline: Attorney General Ordered to Pause New Foreign Bribery Investigations

What it does: The Attorney General must pause new foreign bribery investigations for 180 days, review existing cases, and issue updated enforcement guidelines.

Real World Impact:
  • Stops new foreign bribery investigations for at least 180 days, affecting companies and individuals under review.
  • Existing investigations will be reviewed and could be limited, altered, or subject to remedial action.
  • Future prosecutions will require specific Attorney General approval under revised guidelines.
Topics: anti-bribery enforcement, foreign policy, economic competitiveness, national security

Summary

This order directs the Attorney General to review how the government enforces the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and to pause new foreign bribery investigations for 180 days while that review takes place. During the review, prosecutors must stop starting new cases except for rare, approved exceptions, examine all ongoing cases, and issue updated enforcement guidelines.

The actions affect federal prosecutors, American companies, and individuals under investigation abroad and are intended to protect the President's authority over foreign affairs and U.S. economic and national security interests.

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