Former prosecutors criticize Pam Bondi’s decision to halt enforcement of bribery laws as short-sighted and dangerous.

Experts warn that Trump’s Justice Department pause on anti-corruption efforts will benefit kleptocrats.

Former prosecutors criticize Attorney General Pam Bondi’s decision to suspend enforcement of bribery laws, calling it reckless and harmful.

A major overhaul at the DOJ has weakened key anti-corruption initiatives, potentially aiding U.S. businesses operating overseas and foreign kleptocrats, including Russian oligarchs.

These changes have drawn sharp criticism from legal experts, transparency advocates, and top Democrats, who argue that scaling back anti-corruption efforts undermines America’s global leadership in fighting financial crime and authoritarian influence.

Pam Bondi, a longtime Trump ally, swiftly suspended enforcement of the 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for six months, citing the need for policy review. The FCPA prohibits U.S. businesses from bribing foreign officials, a law that some American firms claim puts them at a competitive disadvantage.

Trump defended the move in February, stating that it would boost U.S. business interests, though critics argue it sends the wrong message on corporate ethics.

In a further shift, Bondi issued a memo last month disbanding two DOJ units dedicated to fighting kleptocracy, including efforts targeting Russian oligarchs. Some prosecutors were reassigned to focus on drug cartels and transnational crime.

Veteran prosecutors warn that these policy shifts could encourage bribery among U.S. firms seeking international deals and allow sanctioned oligarchs and other corrupt actors to evade accountability for money laundering and other financial crimes.