A Glaring Neon Sign: How the Trump Administration Rolled Out the Red Carpet for Corruption
In a move that has left experts and former officials aghast, the Trump administration has been accused of dismantling key anti-corruption safeguards, effectively sending a bold message to foreign actors: “We are open for business—no questions asked.” As one watchdog leader starkly put it, the administration’s actions are akin to “putting up a neon sign telling foreign actors, ‘we are open for corruption.’”
Over the past few years, President Donald Trump and his team have made a series of unprecedented decisions that critics argue have gutted the government’s ability to investigate and prosecute corruption, particularly when it involves foreign interference in U.S. politics. These actions have sparked alarm among former prosecutors and anti-corruption advocates, who warn that the administration’s approach could unleash a tidal wave of corruption both domestically and internationally.
Unprecedented Moves, Unprecedented Risks
Noah Bookbinder, a former federal corruption prosecutor and head of the nonprofit Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, didn’t mince words. “Donald Trump has taken unprecedented steps in his first weeks in office to encourage corruption in the federal government and to weaken the safeguards intended to prevent it,” he said. “This is extremely concerning—it is an emergency.”
The administration’s recent actions have only deepened these concerns. In one sweeping move, Trump signed an executive order halting enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a landmark 1977 law designed to hold American corporations accountable for bribery and misconduct abroad. This decision alone sent shockwaves through the legal and anti-corruption communities, as the FCPA has long been a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to combat global corruption.
But that wasn’t all. On the same day, Trump granted a full pardon to Rod Blagojevich, the former Democratic governor of Illinois who was convicted of trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat to the highest bidder. Blagojevich, a former contestant on Trump’s reality show The Celebrity Apprentice, has since become a vocal Trump supporter and is reportedly being considered for a diplomatic post in Serbia.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department directed Danielle Sassoon, then-acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat who has been cozying up to Trump on issues like immigration. The charges, filed under the Biden administration, had barred Adams from obtaining a security clearance, limiting his ability to collaborate on immigration enforcement. Adams has denied any wrongdoing, but the decision to dismiss the case raised eyebrows—especially when Sassoon and several senior Justice Department officials resigned in protest rather than carry out the order.
A Pattern of Eroding Accountability
These high-profile moves are just the tip of the iceberg. The Trump administration has systematically weakened the tools and institutions designed to combat corruption. For instance, the Justice Department announced it would scale back enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a law aimed at exposing covert lobbying by foreign governments. Additionally, the administration disbanded the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, a unit responsible for seizing hundreds of millions of dollars laundered through the U.S. financial system by foreign governments and their allies.
The administration’s efforts to undermine anti-corruption measures extend beyond policy changes. Trump has fired 18 inspectors general—watchdogs tasked with investigating fraud and abuse within federal agencies—since taking office. He also ousted the heads of the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel, which oversee financial conflicts of interest and protect whistleblowers, respectively. These actions have been challenged in court, but the damage to institutional integrity may already be done.
Conflicts of Interest and a Culture of Impunity
Critics argue that these changes are particularly troubling given Trump’s own complex web of business interests, including a cryptocurrency venture and significant federal contracts held by his companies. His top adviser, Elon Musk, also has extensive international business dealings and billions in federal contracts, raising further questions about potential conflicts of interest. While the administration has insisted that Trump and Musk comply with all relevant laws, anti-corruption advocates remain skeptical.
Danielle Brian, executive director of the nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight, summed it up bluntly: “The new guidance on scaling back enforcement of both the FCPA and FARA, at a time when the president and his lead advisor continue to have significant financial entanglements with foreign interests, is the equivalent of putting up a neon sign telling foreign actors: we are open for corruption.”
A Departure from Bipartisan Norms
What makes these developments even more striking is the stark departure from decades of bipartisan support for anti-corruption efforts. Alberto Gonzales, who served as attorney general under George W. Bush, expressed disappointment at the apparent de-prioritization of anti-corruption initiatives under Trump. “It’s disappointing,” Gonzales said, reflecting a sentiment shared by many across the political spectrum.
As the Trump administration continues to roll back anti-corruption measures, the implications are far-reaching. Without robust enforcement mechanisms, the U.S. risks becoming a haven for illicit activities, undermining its credibility on the global stage and eroding public trust at home. For now, the neon sign is lit—and the world is watching.