Executive Order & Impacts
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to pause the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for at least 180 days, pending a review by the Attorney General.
The pause could benefit the Adani Group and its founder, Gautam Adani, who were charged in connection with an alleged bribery scheme.
The FCPA prohibits bribing foreign governments to secure business.
The order applies to new FCPA investigations. Ongoing cases will follow the new guidelines once they are set.
Review Process
The Attorney General must review existing investigations and can halt new ones during this period.
After the review, "remedial measures" could be applied to any "inappropriate" investigations.
Charges Against Adani Group
The Adani Group and executives face charges related to a $250 million bribery scheme (2020-2024), though the FCPA violations were part of a larger conspiracy involving wire fraud and securities fraud.
Foreign Policy and National Security
Trump has criticized the FCPA before, saying that suspending it would benefit U.S. businesses by reducing restrictions on global trade.
The order links U.S. foreign policy with the competitiveness of American businesses, particularly in areas like critical minerals and infrastructure.
The order claims that FCPA enforcement has been overly broad and unpredictable, affecting American companies.
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