The U.S. Justice Department Narrows Scope of Foreign Anti-Bribery Law

The U.S. Department of Justice is resuming enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act after a six-month pause, refocusing on cases that directly affect U.S. national interests, such as those tied to transnational crime and economic harm to U.S. entities. Officials say this realignment drops many existing investigations and avoids penalizing legitimate business abroad, while critics from Transparency International U.S. and Public Citizen argue the narrowed scope undermines accountability for foreign bribery and reflects a broader retreat from prosecuting corporate misconduct.