Trump’s Department of Justice dismisses numerous corporate crime cases from the Biden era.

Recent concerns have been raised regarding the leniency of the Trump administration towards corporations found breaking the law. Investigations into companies accused of various crimes such as foreign bribery, safety violations, unfair labor practices, and environmental offenses have been suspended or abandoned. This shift in enforcement priorities seems to align with President Trump’s focus on issues like border and national security over other areas of law enforcement.

In the short span of a month, the new administration has either paused or attempted to close investigations or cases involving approximately 89 companies. This accounts for a significant portion of the major investigations and enforcement actions that were being monitored by the non-profit organization Public Citizen during the previous administration. Rick Claypool, research director at Public Citizen, expressed concern over this leniency, stating that it provides “get out of jail free” cards to corporate lawbreakers, which could have disastrous consequences for the public.

Various federal agencies, including the Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, have swiftly shifted their priorities under the new leadership. Despite these changes, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice has emphasized their commitment to actively enforcing federal law and ensuring that criminals are held accountable.

President Trump recently signed an executive order that halted the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits American businesses from bribing foreign officials, citing concerns about its interference with U.S. national security interests. Additionally, the new leadership at the Securities and Exchange Commission has decided to step back from regulating cryptocurrency businesses. This decision was highlighted when Kraken, a major cryptocurrency exchange, announced that the SEC had agreed to drop a case against them for allegedly operating as an unregistered securities exchange without imposing any penalties. Kraken expressed appreciation for the change in leadership that led to this development.

In another instance, a case against Coinbase, another prominent cryptocurrency exchange, was also dismissed by the administration. Coinbase, known for its substantial political donations during the 2024 election cycle, had faced legal scrutiny prior to this recent decision. These shifts in enforcement priorities and the dismissal of cases against companies accused of various crimes indicate a change in the approach to corporate crime under the Trump administration.