{"id":117267,"date":"2026-01-09T03:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T08:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.justsecurity.org\/?p=117267"},"modified":"2026-01-09T15:14:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T20:14:28","slug":"anti-corruption-tracker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.justsecurity.org\/117267\/anti-corruption-tracker\/","title":{"rendered":"The Anti-Corruption Tracker: Mapping the Erosion of Oversight and Accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Anti-Corruption Tracker focuses on the erosion or dismantling of oversight and accountability systems within the United States Executive Branch\u2014watchdog offices closed, enforcement units disbanded, oversight officials removed, and transparency rules hollowed out. These changes don\u2019t always make headlines, but together, they create a more permissive environment for corruption and abuse of power to take root.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tensions between the exercise of power and its oversight exist in every administration. What sets the current moment apart is the scale and coordination of changes that undermine the systems meant to detect, deter, and document abuse of power. This tracker<\/span> includes, for example, <\/span>firing inspectors general <\/span><\/a>and <\/span>independent agency heads<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>pausing or narrowing<\/span><\/a> enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, disbanding key <\/span>investigative<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>prosecutive units<\/span><\/a>, and asserting greater presidential control over independent agencies\u2014moves that significantly reduce internal accountability mechanisms and shift power toward political appointees.<\/span><\/p>\n

While some of these changes may reflect real reform goals, taken cumulatively, they change not just how \u2013 but whether \u2013 use of power is scrutinized and constrained, and, ultimately, whether it is exercised in the public interest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each entry below includes a date, short description, and additional context of why the change matters. Key topics include:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is a regularly updated document. If we\u2019ve missed something, let us know at LTE@justsecurity.org<\/a>. You can find more about our overall approach to the tracker and our corresponding series here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Date Of Action<\/th>Topics<\/th>Action<\/th>Additional Context<\/th>Government Entity <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2026-01-08<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Vice President J.D. Vance announces<\/a> the creation of a new Assistant Attorney General (AAG) position and DOJ division focused on investigating and prosecuting fraud nationwide.<\/strong> According to Vance, the position would be \u201crun out of the White House,\u201d and answer directly to himself and President Trump.
\n
\nPer the accompanying White House Fact Sheet<\/a>, the new DOJ division will \u201cenforce the Federal criminal and civil laws against fraud targeting Federal government programs, Federally funded benefits, business nonprofits, and private citizens nationwide.\u201d <\/td>		There are 11 congressionally-authorized AAG positions<\/a> as set forth in 28 USC \u00a7 506. Creation of an entirely new DOJ Division has historically<\/a> required congressional authority, and it is unclear whether the administration will seek this authority.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP); Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-12-16 <\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>Democratic members of Congress send an oversight letter<\/a> to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting information about what they characterize as an improper pattern of favorable DOJ actions on behalf of her brother, Brad Bondi, and his clients.<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>The letter alleges favorable DOJ interventions, dismissals, and other outcomes in matters involving clients of Brad Bondi. The letter asserts DOJ has repeatedly intervened in litigation or dismissed criminal cases involving clients represented by Brad Bondi. These outcomes, the lawmakers argue, \u201cconsistently favor\u201d those clients and raise doubts about DOJ\u2019s impartiality and compliance with federal ethics rules.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-12-10<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>U.S. Customs and Immigration Services launches<\/a> the previously-announced Trump Gold Card visa program<\/strong>, enabling foreigners to pay $1 million (or for a company to pay $2 million to sponsor a foreigner) for expedited permanent residency. <\/td>EB-5<\/a> visas were created in 1990 as a method for immigrants to obtain green cards if they invested at least $800,000 to $1 million in a company that employs at least 10 people. The administration\u2019s new \u201cGold Card\u201d program departs from this framework by eliminating the job-creation requirement and permitting individuals to obtain expedited permanent residency through a direct payment of $1 million (or $2 million if paid by a sponsoring company), rather than through an investment tied to employment outcomes.<\/td>U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-11-18<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>During a conference call<\/a> with more than 200 agency HR leaders, a senior advisor at the Office Personnel Management (OPM) says that the final Schedule Policy\/Career regulations will cite \u201caccountability to the president\u201d as grounds for stripping tens of thousands of career federal employees of their civil service protections. <\/strong><\/td>Reinstated in January 2025, Schedule Policy\/Career<\/a> is a new job classification that will convert<\/a> career policy-related positions into at-will positions, effectively eliminating civil service protections (such as those affecting rights after termination) for tens of thousands of federal workers. <\/td>Office of Personnel Management (OPM)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-11-14<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>FBI director Kash Patel waives<\/a> polygraph exam requirement for newly hired FBI Deputy Director, Dan Boningo, and two senior FBI staff, Marshall Yates and Nicole Rucker.<\/strong><\/td>According to the FBI\u2019s employment guidelines<\/a>, all employees must obtain a \u201cTop Secret\u201d security clearance, which includes a polygraph test. Polygraph tests are part of the broader background check conducted on all potential FBI employees, used to vet whether candidates\u2019 pose any national security or suitability concerns. These security measures safeguard sensitive intelligence information.
\n
\nWhile polygraph results are not determinative and have recognized limitations<\/a>, the exam remains a mandatory element of FBI clearance adjudication. These waivers appear to be a departure from the normal FBI vetting process. <\/td>		Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-11-5<\/td>Federal Workforce <\/td>OPM and OMB publish guidance<\/a> requiring agencies to create Strategic Hiring Committees led by, and composed of a majority of, non-career officials.<\/strong><\/td>The guidance\u2014which follows<\/a> Executive Order 14356, \u201cEnsuring Continued Accountability in Federal Hiring<\/a>\u201d \u2014directs that any hiring plan be consistent with administration priorities, agency needs, and the Merit Hiring plan.<\/td>Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Office of Personnel Management (OPM) <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-11-03<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>The FBI fires<\/a> four agents who worked on former Special Counsel Jack Smith\u2019s team that investigated President Trump.<\/strong> Two of those agents were later informed that the terminations were being rescinded. Several other agents were also terminated, only to later have those firings reversed. <\/td>Since January, dozens<\/a> of FBI agents, prosecutors, and support personnel who worked on Smith\u2019s investigation or handled cases investigating individuals involved in the January 6 attack have been fired from the Justice Department. These firings are a part of a larger pattern of reprisals of Justice Department personnel who the Trump administration considers partisan. According to the FBI Agents Association<\/a>, \u201cDirector Patel has disregarded the law and launched a campaign of erratic and arbitrary retribution.\u201d<\/td>Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-11-03<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>Joe Allen, the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency\u2019s (FHFA) acting inspector general, is removed<\/a> from his role.<\/strong><\/td>FHFA<\/a> is an independent agency created in 2008 and charged with regulating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
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\nJoe Allen\u2019s removal follows a series of controversial actions by FHFA Director Bill Pulte. Under Pulte\u2019s leadership, the agency has issued public criminal referrals targeting several of the former president\u2019s political opponents, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook, and California Senator Adam Schiff.
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\nAllen was notified of his termination shortly after attempting to share key information with federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia and while preparing to alert Congress that the FHFA was refusing to cooperate with its Inspector General\u2019s Office.<\/td>		Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-10-30<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>The Trump administration fires<\/a> roughly a dozen officials within Fannie Mae\u2019s ethics and internal investigations unit.<\/strong><\/td>Fannie Mae<\/a> is the government-backed mortgage giant under the control of FHFA. The Fannie Mae ethics team investigated complaints that come in through a tip line, including allegations of internal fraud or the illegal use of funds. According to people familiar with the matter, the officials had been probing<\/a> if Trump appointee Bill Pulte had improperly obtained mortgage records of key Democratic officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James.
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\nThe unit\u2019s shrinking is part of a 62-person reduction in force, as the Trump administration considers<\/a> an initial public offering of shares in the company, and follows the firing of Fannie Mae\u2019s chief ethics officer. The general counsel also recently stepped down after reportedly<\/a> being pressured by leadership.<\/td>		Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-10-29<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>President Trump fires<\/a> all six members of the Commission of Fine Arts, an independent federal agency that was expected to review some of President Trump\u2019s construction projects, including the new ballroom and Arch.<\/strong><\/td>The Commission, established by Congress in 1910, is charged<\/a> with providing expert design advice and public-interest oversight of federal construction in the D.C. area. White House officials have traditionally sought the agency\u2019s approval, although it is not clear whether their approval was necessary for the East Wing ballroom and the triumphal arch<\/a>.
\n
\nPresident Trump reportedly plans<\/a> to appoint a new slate of members to the commission that are \u201cmore aligned with President Trump\u2019s \u2018America First\u2019 policies,\u201d per an official.
\n
\nBiden in 2021 fired Trump appointees from both the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission, with Biden administration officials at the time defending the moves as an effort to diversify the panels. It was the first time in the commissions\u2019 history that a president had forced out sitting members, drawing some criticism from art and architecture experts that Biden was politicizing its work.<\/td>		Commission of Fine Arts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-10-21<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>New reporting reveals that President Trump has submitted demands<\/a> that the Justice Department pay him roughly $230 million in compensation for the federal investigations into him.<\/strong><\/td>In late 2023 and summer 2024, President Trump submitted administrative claims to the Justice Department on a \u201cStandard Form 95,\u201d which is used to see if a settlement can be reached without a lawsuit in federal court.
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\nThis type of settlement must be approved by the Deputy Attorney General or Associate Attorney General, according to Justice Department regulations<\/a>, both of whom have defended Trump or individuals associated with the President prior to joining the Department. <\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-10-15 <\/td>Federal Workforce <\/td>President Trump issues Executive Order 14356, \u201cEnsuring Continued Accountability in Federal Hiring<\/a>,\u201d restricting agencies from filling vacant positions or creating new ones unless approved under the Order or required by law. The E.O. requires all hiring to comply with the administration\u2019s Merit Hiring Plan and directs each agency to establish a Strategic Hiring Committee to approve any hiring actions.<\/strong><\/td>The E.O. requires that agencies submit an Annual Staffing Plan to OPM and OMB, prioritizing positions aligned with administration priorities and reducing \u201clow-value\u201d contractor roles. It also imposes new reporting requirements and bars agencies from using contracting to circumvent hiring restrictions. The E.O. exempts certain political, national-security, and public-safety positions.<\/td>Office of Management and Budget (OMB); Office of Personnel Management (OPM)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025\u201310\u201315<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>President Trump reportedly removes<\/a> the Inspector General of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).<\/strong><\/td>Parisa Salehi, who had been the Inspector General of EXIM since 2022, had previously<\/a> served in senior roles in IG offices within the State Department and USAID. She reportedly<\/a> received a notice that her firing was effective immediately due to the administration\u2019s \u201cchanging priorities.\u201d The removal occurred without the White House providing Congress with advance notification or a rationale for the firing.<\/td>Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-10-07<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>FBI Director Kash Patel announces<\/a> that the FBI\u2019s public corruption squad, known as CR15, has been \u201cdismantled.\u201d<\/strong><\/td>The public corruption squad, which operated out of the Washington Field Office, was reportedly<\/a> the unit that helped special counsel Jack Smith in his investigation into President Donald Trump.
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\nNote: On May 1, 2025, FBI announced<\/a> it was dismantling CR15, but the individual agents were not fired until Oct. 7.<\/td>		Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-09-30<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The DOJ reportedly plans<\/a> to split<\/a> the tax division into the Civil and Criminal divisions, and likewise, split<\/a> the Consumer Protection Branch (CPB) between the Civil and Criminal Divisions.<\/strong><\/td>Tax Division Split<\/strong>
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\nThe Tax Division oversaw federal criminal and civil tax enforcement. Previously, the Tax Division had to approve the opening of certain tax cases \u201cto achieve uniform, broad, and balanced criminal tax enforcement.\u201d Under the reorganization, tax cases are now split between the civil and criminal division, without a central authority overseeing such prosecutions. It is too early to tell the effects of this change, although some warn that the general loss of expertise through attorney departures and other potential changes could affect \u201cthe future of tax enforcement.\u201d
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\nCPB Dismantling<\/strong>
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\nLike with the Tax Division reorganization, it is too early to tell the effects of the splitting of CPB, as the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch will now handle most of the civil cases previously handled by CPB, such as consumer fraud, healthcare fraud, veterans fraud, deceptive practices, and violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
\n<\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-09-29<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>At least a third of senior career leaders have reportedly left the Justice Department<\/a> since the start of President Trump\u2019s second term.<\/strong><\/td>These reportedly include at least 107 career Justice Department senior managers in the span of eight months, out of roughly 320 career leadership positions immediately below presidential appointees. The divisions hit the hardest include those enforcing civil rights, immigration, and environmental laws.
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\nPolitical appointees routinely change over when new presidents take office, but it is very rare for career members of the Senior Executive Service. Analysts warn<\/a> this \u201cbrain drain\u201d will take generations to rebuild, weakening DOJ\u2019s institutional memory and capacity for independent enforcement. <\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-09-20<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) moves to block funding<\/a> to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), forcing the government\u2019s inspector general council to suspend its work.<\/strong><\/td>CIGIE serves as the coordinating body for 72 inspectors general across the federal government. It provides training, conducts peer reviews, and facilitates cross-agency oversight, while also managing Oversight.gov, the portal for whistleblower disclosures and public access to inspector general reports.
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\nOMB justifies its decision<\/a> to block funding to CIGIE on the grounds that inspectors general have become \u201ccorrupt, partisan, and in some cases, have lied to the public.\u201d In response, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), send a letter<\/a> to OMB Director Russ Vought calling on OMB to reverse its decision to withhold apportionments for CIGIE.
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\nNote<\/em>: As of Oct. 1, 2025, at least 15 government oversight websites run by CIGIE were down<\/a>, although it is not clear if this is due to the government shutdown or a more long-term shutdown. CIGIE\u2019s homepage was replaced with a single line of text: \u201cDue to a lack of apportionment of funds, this website is currently unavailable.\u201d With the websites gone, so is access to the reports of those offices as well as legally required hotlines for whistleblowers.<\/td>		Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-09-20<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Trump demands<\/a> Attorney General Bondi prosecute political opponents<\/strong>, including former FBI Director James Comey, Rep. Adam Schiff, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, in Truth Social posts. Trump calls on Bondi to act immediately, writing that \u201c[w]e can\u2019t delay any longer, it\u2019s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!! President DJT.\u201d<\/td>The post marks one of President Trump\u2019s clearest attempts to override norms that have typically insulated federal prosecutorial decisions from direct presidential intervention. Legal experts warn<\/a> that such directives undermine the Justice Department\u2019s independence and erode longstanding guardrails against politicized prosecutions.
\n
\nNote: On Sept. 25, 2025, the DOJ indicted<\/a> James Comey for making false statements and obstructing justice. <\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-08-25<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>The DOJ reportedly dismantles<\/a> apolitical career hiring practices within its Civil Rights Division.<\/strong><\/td>According to six current and former Justice Department attorneys, the prior practice of entrusting civil rights hiring decisions to career officials was specifically intended to safeguard the process from political interference. Since 2008, DOJ\u2019s Civil Rights Division has used a merit-based hiring committee to insulate career attorney recruitment from political influence, following findings<\/a> that earlier politicization violated federal civil service law. According to Bloomberg Law, the Trump administration is unwinding this system and returning hiring authority to political appointees.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-08-25<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump announces<\/a> the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, citing allegations of mortgage fraud.<\/strong><\/td>Trump claims Cook provided conflicting information about her personal primary residence on separate mortgage applications, constituting \u201csufficient cause\u201d for dismissal. Cook, who has not been charged with mortgage fraud and denies wrongdoing, responds that the president has \u201cno authority\u201d to fire her and that she will not resign.
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\nExperts question<\/a> the legal basis for Cook\u2019s removal, noting that the Federal Reserve Act<\/a> only allows<\/a> termination \u201cfor cause,\u201d and no modern president has ever attempted to fire a sitting Fed governor. Analysts warn that the move could undermine confidence in the central bank\u2019s independence.<\/td>		Federal Reserve<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-08-18<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Roger Alford, the former Deputy Assistant Attorney General in DOJ\u2019s Antitrust Division, publicly accuses<\/a> aides to Attorney General Pam Bondi of undermining the independence of antitrust enforcement.<\/td>Alford alleges that Attorney General Bondi\u2019s Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle and senior aide Stanley Woodward intervened in the DOJ\u2019s merger review<\/a> of Hewlett Packard Enterprise\u2019s acquisition of Juniper Networks. Alford said the aides favored lobbyists and \u201cMAGA friends\u201d during settlement negotiations, resulting in a weak enforcement outcome.
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\nAlford, who served in the first Trump administration, urged a federal court to scrutinize the settlement and block the merger, noting that he \u201cexperienced nothing remotely like this\u201d when he served at the DOJ the last time.\u201d He and another top DOJ antitrust official, William Rinner, were reportedly fired after objecting to the political interference.<\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-08-08<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly fires<\/a> three senior career FBI officials, including former Acting Director Brian Driscoll, via summary letters delivered by subordinates. <\/strong><\/td>The three officials later file a complaint<\/a> alleging the removals violated their Due Process rights and statutory rights guaranteed by the FBI Senior Executive Service and were part of a campaign to enforce political loyalty. The complaint further describes a culture of politicization and dysfunction at the FBI since President Trump\u2019s inauguration.<\/td>Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-08-01<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>Michael Seidel, longtime head of the FBI\u2019s FOIA unit, is reportedly<\/a> pushed out following internal disagreement over the process related to the Epstein files.<\/strong><\/td>Seidel was Chief of the FBI\u2019s Record\/Information Dissemination Section (RIDS) and was reportedly given the option to retire or be fired after resisting political pressure related to the disclosure process of a high-profile internal review led by Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel of the Epstein files.<\/td>Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-07-25<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>April Falcon Doss is fired<\/a> from her position as General Counsel for the National Security Agency (NSA). <\/strong><\/td>The NSA General Counsel serves as the agency\u2019s chief legal officer\u2014a senior civil service role intended to be nonpartisan and protected from political interference. Doss was dismissed following criticism amplified<\/a> by conservative activist Laura Loomer, who reposted a Daily Wire article accusing Doss of partisan behavior. The firing of Doss raises concerns<\/a> about escalating politicization of legal roles within national security agencies.<\/td>National Security Agency (NSA)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-07-22<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>The administration has reportedly<\/a> moved to block the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from investigating its withholding of federal funds<\/strong>, with support from Republican members of Congress.<\/td>The GAO enforces a post-Watergate statute<\/a> called the Impoundment Act<\/a> that bars the executive branch from defying congressional spending directives. In response to scrutiny, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought has defended the administration\u2019s actions as efforts to manage taxpayer funds more efficiently and criticized<\/a> the GAO, calling it a \u201ca quasi-independent arm of the legislative branch that played a partisan role in the first-term impeachment hoax.\u201d At the same time, House Republicans have introduced legislation<\/a> to significantly weaken GAO\u2019s capacity\u2014proposing to slash its budget by half\u2014a move that could gut its staff and curtail its ability to oversee federal spending.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-07-18<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>Carolyn Feinstein, forensic accountant working in the U.S. Trustee program at the Department of Justice is fired<\/a><\/strong>, leaving large portions of the state of Texas without federal auditing coverage for bankruptcy cases<\/td>Feinstein\u2019s termination followed mounting attention from right-wing media due to an app her husband created\u2014ICEBlock\u2014which tracked the movement of immigration enforcement agents in real time. Although Feinstein herself had no involvement in the app, her firing reportedly came after pressure from Attorney General Pam Bondi and Border Czar Tom Homan. The decision raises concerns about politically motivated retaliation and the weakening of nonpartisan civil service protections, particularly in technical roles unrelated to immigration policy. <\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-07-17<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>President signs an executive order creating a new classification of non-career federal workers, \u201cSchedule G<\/a>\u201d <\/strong>employees, to expand the number of non-career political appointees within federal agencies.<\/td>The order allows agencies to reclassify a broader range of roles as \u201cpolicy-determining\u201d or \u201cpolicy-influencing,\u201d enabling political appointees to fill positions that have historically been staffed by career civil servants. Analysts warn<\/a> that Schedule G, like its predecessor Schedule F, could disempower<\/a> the apolitical, merit-based civil service and weaken the institutional independence necessary for objective governance.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-07-13<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>Attorney General Pam Bondi dismisses<\/a> the DOJ\u2019s Director of its Ethics Office<\/strong>, the senior DOJ official responsible for overall leadership of the department\u2019s ethics program. <\/td>The Director serves as Designated Agency Ethics Official<\/a> (DAEO), the top department official responsible for counseling senior political appointees on ethics and conflict-of-interest rules.
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\nThe Director oversees<\/a> the entire agency ethics program, provides guidance on certifying senior officials\u2019 financial disclosures, issues recusal and conflict-of-interest guidance, and serves as DOJ\u2019s liaison to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics.
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\nThe removal follows<\/a> a broader personnel shake-up all linked to former Special Counsel Jack Smith. <\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-06-10<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announces<\/a> new guidelines for FCPA investigations<\/strong>. Enforcement resumes but with a narrower scope focused on U.S. economic and national security interests.<\/td>The new guidelines emphasize that new FCPA investigations require senior approval and reprioritize enforcement toward serious bribery threats connected to national security interests, while reducing emphasis on routine or low-level cases.
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\nSpecifically, the new guidance directs prosecutors to: limit the \u201cundue burden on American companies operating abroad;\u201d target enforcement actions against conduct that directly undermines US national interests; focus on cases involving criminal conduct by individuals; proceed expeditiously; and, consider collateral impacts throughout the investigation and resolution process.<\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-06-10<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>Cara Petersen, the acting Enforcement Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), resigns<\/a><\/strong>. Petersen notes, \u201cI have served under every Director and Acting Director in the Bureau\u2019s history and never before have I seen the ability to perform our core mission so under attack.\u201d<\/td>The CFPB<\/a>, established by Congress after the 2008 financial crisis to investigate banking fraud and supervise banking services to individual customers using retail services. It broadened the scope of its supervision in 2024 to technology firms that provide digital payment services: Google Pay, Apple Pay, Venmo, Samsung Pay, Cash App, and PayPal.<\/td>Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-05-29<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump nominates<\/a> Paul Ingrassia, a former far-right podcast host and conservative commentator, to serve as head of the Office of the Special Counsel.<\/strong><\/td>Ingrassia is known for inflammatory statements on social media, including a 2021 post<\/a> supporting the use of martial law to overturn the 2020 Presidential election. Members of Congress<\/a> and government watchdog groups<\/a> expressed alarm at the nomination, warning that Ingrassia lacks the experience, temperament, and nonpartisan integrity required to lead a key government watchdog office.
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\nThe U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. Its authority<\/a> comes from four statutes: the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hatch Act (which restricts partisan political activity by federal employees), and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). OSC\u2019s primary mission is to safeguard the federal merit system by protecting employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices<\/a>, including coercing political activity, nepotism, and retaliation for whistleblowing. It also serves as a secure channel for employees to report government wrongdoing<\/a> and enforces employment protections for military service members under USERRA.<\/td>		Office of Special Counsel (OSC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-05-29<\/td>Federal Workforce <\/td>The White House Office of Personnel Management introduces a new Hiring Plan<\/a> that requires agencies to add new assessment and essay questions that will test career applicants\u2019 support for the president\u2019s Executive Orders and other policies<\/strong>, and requires a senior-level political appointee to oversee the hiring process instead of a career supervisor. <\/td>The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was created in 1979 as part of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. It sets presidential priorities across the federal workforce, administers USAJOBS, conducts background investigations, and manages federal retirement and insurance benefits.
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\nBy centralizing hiring authority under political appointees, introducing ideologically driven assessments, and restricting data collection, the OPM\u2019s new Merit Hiring Plan could enable bipartisan favoritism and weaken accountability. <\/td>		Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-05-27<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>Employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs are reportedly<\/a> required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)<\/strong> in preparation for significant staffing cuts.<\/td>NDAs of this kind are rare for this kind of personnel matter. Federal employees already have a duty to not disclose pre-decisional matters to the public. A House Oversight committee inquiry notes<\/a> that extending agreements beyond an employee\u2019s tenure \u201ccould chill employees from disclosing violations of waste, fraud, and abuse.\u201d
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\nOthers note that this is part of a growing trend of secrecy<\/a> across the federal government. <\/td>		Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-05-15<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>The FBI disbands<\/a> its public corruption squad in the Washington Field Office, known internally as \u201cCR15.\u201d<\/strong> Though the Bureau indicated that public corruption investigations will continue, cases will now be handled by other units without a dedicated squad.<\/td>CR15 specialized in probing major public corruption, including alleged misconduct by members of Congress and investigations tied to the Capitol riot. The FBI says that investigations will continue through other field units.<\/td>Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-05-14<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard fires<\/a> two members of the National Intelligence Council<\/strong> who reportedly helped facilitate the FOIA release of an intelligence assessment that determined that the Tren de Aragua gang does not take orders from or operate in close coordination with the Maduro government.<\/td>Some suggest this firing was punishment for providing information that does not support the administration\u2019s agenda. Retaliation against these officials has the potential to have a chilling effect<\/a> on FOIA offices and on independent and objective intelligence across the government.<\/td>Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-05-01<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>President Trump signs Executive Order 14290<\/a>, titled \u201cEnding Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,\u201d<\/strong> halting direct funding to National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).<\/td>Under the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967<\/a>, Congress allocates federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), to help support and expand non-commercial broadcasting in the United States. The statute does not grant the president or any other agency purview over the CPB.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-05-01<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The DOJ reportedly suspends<\/a> the long-standing policy requiring the Criminal Division\u2019s Public Integrity Section (PIN) to review and approve all public-corruption prosecutions<\/strong>, and has reassigned oversight of election-fraud, including allegations of election disinformation, cases away from PIN.<\/td>The PIN review requirement was designed to add an internal check against politically motivated or unfounded indictments of public officials. Eliminating this safeguard could leave charging decisions more vulnerable to political influence.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-24<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>President Trump issues an executive order<\/a> expanding the ground on which agencies may fire probationary employees.<\/strong><\/td>Previously, probationary employees (those in their first year of federal employment or first one to two years after promotion) could only be dismissed for poor performance or misconduct. The new order allows removal if an employee\u2019s continued service is deemed inconsistent with agency \u201cneeds, goals, and efficiency.\u201d Agencies must now certify affirmatively that retaining a probationary employee serves the public interest.
\nAnalysts warn<\/a> that the change may be unlawful<\/a> and may circumvent the Civil Service Reform Act.
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\nNote: in Sept. 2025, a District Court Judge rules<\/a> that related probationary employee firings were unlawful. <\/em><\/td>		Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-23<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump issues an executive memorandum<\/a> directing the DOJ, in consultation with the Treasury, to investigate ActBlue<\/strong>, a major fundraising platform for Democratic campaigns.<\/td>The directive marks a notable expansion of White House involvement in DOJ-led campaign finance investigations. Recent reporting<\/a> highlights concern<\/a> among legal experts and lawmakers about a shift away from longstanding norms that seek to insulate prosecutorial decisions from political influence.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-23<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issues a proposed rule<\/a> to revive and rename \u201cSchedule F,\u201d a Trump-era personnel category that would convert thousands of career civil servants into at-will employees.<\/strong> The proposal follows Executive Order 14171<\/a> and renames the classification \u201cSchedule Policy\/Career.\u201d<\/td>The new proposed Schedule Policy\/Career designation would apply to civil servants involved in \u201cpolicy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating\u201d roles. While these employees would still be hired through merit-based processes, they would no longer be protected by Title 5 procedures governing discipline and removal\u2014effectively rendering them at-will employees that serve at the pleasure of the President. <\/td>Office of Personnel Management (OPM)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-11<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announces<\/a> a multi-year settlement with four major law firms<\/strong>\u2014Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and A&O Shearman Sterling\u2014under which the firms affirm \u201cmerit-based\u201d hiring, promotion, and retention; agree to discontinue any policies previously branded as \u201cDEI\u201d; and accept ongoing EEOC compliance monitoring.<\/td>This action follows Acting EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas\u2019 March 17, 2025 letters<\/a> questioning the legality of private law firms\u2019 DEI fellowships and affinity-group practices. A bipartisan group of former officials<\/a> and others<\/a> write<\/a> that similar orders and actions risk chilling the independence of the legal profession.<\/td>Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-09<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump signs a new memorandum, \u201cAddressing Risks from Chris Krebs and Government Censorship<\/a>,\u201d<\/strong> directing every federal agency to revoke any security clearance held by former CISA Director Chris Krebs and his associates and orders a review of Krebs\u2019 leadership of CISA and its activities since 2018.<\/td>The memorandum was issued four years after Krebs publicly declared<\/a> the 2020 election \u201cthe most secure in American history,\u201d contradicting President\u202fTrump\u2019s claims of widespread voter fraud.\u202fThe text accuses Krebs of having \u201cweaponized\u201d his former office and labels him a \u201csignificant bad\u2011faith actor.\u201d\u202fMainstream coverage and fact\u2011checks describe<\/a> the directive as a direct retaliation for Krebs\u2019s election\u2011security assessment. \u202fAnalysts warn that using clearance revocations and retroactive probes in response to such statements could chill future officials from offering candid advice on election integrity.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-09<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump signs Executive Order, \u201cAddressing Risks from Susman Godfrey LLP<\/a>,\u201d <\/strong>directing clearance suspensions, federal-contract reviews, and access limits similar to earlier law-firm orders.<\/td>This order is one of several executive actions targeting major U.S. law firms for prior legal work the President described as personally detrimental. A bipartisan group of former officials<\/a> and others<\/a> write<\/a> that such orders risk chilling the independence of the legal profession.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-09<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issues a Department-wide memorandum<\/a> that (1) no taxpayer funds may be used for travel to or engagement with American Bar Association events<\/strong> and (2) DOJ employees, \u201cwhen acting in their official capacities,\u201d may not speak at, attend, or otherwise participate in ABA-hosted functions prohibits taxpayer funds from paying for any travel to or engagement with American Bar Association (ABA) events.<\/td>Blanche states the restriction is warranted because the ABA is in active litigation against the Department. The ABA has long served as a major convening body for the legal profession, with senior DOJ officials routinely attending in its events. In granting a preliminary<\/a> injunction against a related grant termination, Judge Cooper (D.D.C.) observed that Blanche \u201ccandidly explained\u201d the memo was issued in direct response to the ABA\u2019s lawsuit and held that DOJ\u2019s actions likely violate the First Amendment\u2019s ban on reprisals for protected petitioning activity.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-07<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>The Department of Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) announces a reorganization<\/a> <\/strong>that consolidates its Region and Corporate Audit Directorates with the goal of improving the agency\u2019s \u201coperational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.\u201d <\/td>The DCAA, established in 1965, conducts<\/a> audits and provides financial advisory services for government contracts. Its primary purpose is to prevent corruption and safeguard taxpayer dollars spent in government contracts for defense-related expenses.<\/td>Department of Defense (DOD)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-07<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Deputy Attorney General Blanche ends the Department\u2019s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team<\/a> (NCET) effective immediately.<\/strong><\/td>NCET was established in February 2022<\/a> to investigate and prosecute serious cryptocurrency crimes, including fraud, money laundering, and illicit finance tied to cartels and terrorist organizations. Under Blanche\u2019s April\u202f7,\u202f2025 memo titled \u201cEnding Regulation by Prosecution,\u201d the DOJ will shift focus away from prosecuting exchanges and wallet providers for regulatory violations. The memo states that enforcement will continue against defrauders, and those using crypto for terrorism, cartels, hacking, or human trafficking.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-03<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reportedly<\/a> cuts public records teams at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other agencies within the department<\/strong> as part of sweeping layoffs in his \u201cradical transparency\u201d initiative.<\/td>Those offices were responsible for handling public information and compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) \u2014including responding to records requests and safeguarding personal data.
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\nAs of May 2025, a few of the team members from the FDA were reportedly<\/a> rehired without an explanation given for the reinstatement.<\/td>		Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-02<\/td>Enforcement Priorities <\/td>The administration declines to appoint a Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption and disbands the team responsible for leading implementation of the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption.<\/strong><\/td>The position of Global Anti-Corruption Coordinator was created to lead international efforts against kleptocracy, illicit finance, and transnational corruption, and to implement the first-ever U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption, released in 2021.<\/td>Department of State <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-04-02<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Two senior officials from the Securities and Exchange Commission\u2019s FCPA unit\u2014Charles Cain (the unit\u2019s chief since 2017) and Tracy Price (the unit\u2019s deputy chief since 2018)\u2014resign<\/a>.<\/strong> Their resignations follow the administration\u2019s decision to pause Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement reviews.<\/td>With Cain and Price stepping aside, the SEC joins the DOJ\u2019s Fraud Section in losing senior officials that enforce the FCPA, potentially reducing capacity and deemphasizing anti-bribery enforcement across both agencies.<\/td>Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-27<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump signs Executive Order 14250<\/a>, \u201cAddressing Risks from Wilmerhale LLP,\u201d<\/strong> suspending the firm\u2019s security clearances, directing agencies to terminate or withhold federal contracts, and restricting firm personnel from certain federal facilities.<\/td>This order is one of several executive actions targeting major U.S. law firms for prior legal work the President described as personally detrimental. A bipartisan group of former officials<\/a> and others<\/a> write<\/a> that similar orders and memoranda risk chilling the independence of the legal profession.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-25<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump signs Executive Order, \u201cAddressing Risks from Jenner & Block LLP<\/a>,\u201d<\/strong> instructing agencies to suspend the firm\u2019s clearances, terminate federal contracts \u201cto the maximum extent permitted by law,\u201d and limit facility access.<\/td>This order is one of several executive actions targeting major U.S. law firms for prior legal work the President described as personally detrimental. A bipartisan group of former officials<\/a> and others<\/a> write<\/a> that such orders risk chilling the independence of the legal profession.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-24<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>The Office of Management and Budget removes<\/a> a public-facing website that displayed how federal funding is apportioned to agencies,<\/strong> claiming<\/a> that disclosure of such information is sensitive, predecisional, and deliberative.<\/td>As part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress enacted<\/a> new legislation requiring OMB to make apportionments public. The rollback raises concerns<\/a> about transparency in federal spending and limits the ability of Congress, watchdog groups, and the public to track how appropriated funds are controlled, delayed, or redirected within the executive branch.
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\nNote: on Aug. 9, 2025, an appeals court unanimously reinstated<\/a> a lower court\u2019s order<\/a> to restore the database.
\n<\/td>		Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-22<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump signs a memorandum, \u201cRescinding Security Clearances and Access to Classified Information from Specified Individuals,<\/a>\u201d<\/strong> revoking security clearances for 18 named figures, including whistle-blower attorney Mark Zaid<\/a>.<\/td>Advocacy groups say<\/a> that removing Zaid\u2019s security clearance is \u201cunrestrained retaliation\u201d for \u201clegally protected speech under Intelligence Community whistleblower laws,\u201d potentially chilling future whistle\u2011blower advocacy. <\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-21<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>DHS orders<\/a> a reduction\u2011in\u2011force that shutters three internal oversight units\u202f\u2014\u202fthe Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), and the Citizenship &\u202fImmigration Services Ombudsman (CISOM)\u202f\u2014\u202fplacing more than 100 employees on leave.<\/strong> The department later reverses<\/a> course (following a lawsuit), but a June 11, 2025 court filing<\/a> says the offices remain \u201cseverely understaffed and unable to perform their statutory functions.\u201d<\/td>DHS said the closures were meant to \u201cremove bureaucratic hurdles\u201d that \u201cobstruct immigration enforcement.\u201d\u202fAdvocates and a bipartisan group of former officials argue the move eliminates key channels for civil\u2011rights complaints and detention oversight; plaintiffs now ask the court to monitor staffing and budget restoration.<\/td>Department of Homeland Security (DHS)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-18<\/td>Federal Workforce <\/td>President Trump fires<\/a> two members of the Federal Trade Commission, Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya, before their terms end.<\/strong><\/td>The FTC, established<\/a> in 1914, is an independent agency whose mission is to protect the public from \u201cdeceptive or unfair business practices and unfair methods of competition.\u201d The FTC has five commissioners who serve seven-year terms; the law requires that no more than three commissioners be from the same political party and allows removal by the President only \u201cfor inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.\u201d<\/td>Federal Trade Commission (FTC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-13<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly<\/a> begins a sweeping restructuring of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps<\/strong>, including replacing several senior JAGs with appointees outside the traditional promotion pipeline.<\/td>The unprecedented shake-up of uniformed military lawyers has prompted concerns<\/a> among former Pentagon officials and others that it could compromise the neutrality of military legal advice and carry \u201cwide\u2011ranging consequences for how the U.S. military conducts operations and disciplines personnel.\u201d<\/td>Department of Defense (DOD)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-11<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The DOJ\u2019s Public Integrity Section is reportedly<\/a> drastically downsized<\/strong>, with its 30-person staff cut to as few as five and remaining cases transferred to U.S. Attorney\u2019s Offices nationwide.<\/td>Created in 1976 in response to Watergate, the DOJ's Public Integrity Section<\/a> investigates and prosecutes alleged misconduct of public officials in all three branches of the federal government, as well as state and local public officials. This includes public corruption, election crimes, campaign finance offenses, and related misconduct by federal officials.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-10<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The DOJ does not attend the March 2025 quarterly meeting of the OECD Working Group on Bribery<\/a>,<\/strong> the first absence since the working group's formation in 1994.<\/td>Since 1994, the DOJ has consistently sent representatives to these meetings, which oversee implementation of the OECD Anti\u2011Bribery Convention<\/a> and monitor global enforcement of foreign-bribery laws.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-08
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\n<\/td>		Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>Acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer issues a \u201cProbationary Directive\u201d ordering the closure of all Office of Special Counsel (OSC) investigations into the February 2025 mass firing of more than 2,000 probationary civil servants<\/a>. <\/strong><\/td>In February 2025, the Trump Administration directed the terminations of thousands of probationary federal employees, which are those employees who were hired within the past two years. These firings were reportedly conducted en masse, with no individualized assessments of workers\u2019 performance or conduct.
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\nOSC began investigating these firings, as its mandate is to investigate prohibited practices, such as firing or demoting employees for political reasons, retaliating against whistleblowers, or violating merit system principles. After the investigations began, President Trump fired the Special Counsel and replaced him with Acting Special Counsel Greer.
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\nNote: On Sept. 10, 2025, five former civil servants filed suit in federal court against OSC and Greer, alleging the Probationary Directive was unlawful and violated OSC\u2019s statutory duty under the Civil Service Reform Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. <\/td>		Office of Special Counsel (OSC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-06<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump signs Executive Order 14230<\/a>, \u201cAddressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLP,\u201d<\/strong> suspending the firm\u2019s security clearances, directing agencies to terminate or withhold federal contracts, and restricting firm personnel from certain federal facilities.<\/td>This order is one of several executive actions targeting major U.S. law firms for prior legal work the President described as personally detrimental. A bipartisan group of former officials<\/a> and others<\/a> write<\/a> that similar orders and memoranda risk chilling the independence of the legal profession.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-06<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Several career prosecutors in the DOJ Fraud Section are reportedly either reassigned<\/a> or fired<\/a>,<\/strong> and numerous others in the section are encouraged to take a detail, or temporary assignment to work on non-white collar cases.<\/td>These changes suggest the Department may be shifting resources away from complex financial crime investigations.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-03-02<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>The Department of Treasury announces<\/a> that it will no longer enforce the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).<\/strong>
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\n<\/td>		The CTA, passed<\/a> in 2021, was a bipartisan effort aimed at curtailing the use of shell companies and tracking flows of illicit money, in partnership with Treasury\u2019s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). It was designed to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, tax evasion, and other illicit finance by increasing transparency into who actually owns and controls companies operating in the U.S.
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\nConsistent with this announcement, FinCEN issued an interim final rule on March 21, 2025, that removed the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act.
\n<\/td>		Department of Treasury<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-27<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The CFPB dismisses five enforcement actions against financial services companies<\/strong> accused of wrongdoing under the prior administration (cases against Capital One<\/a>, Vanderbilt Mortgage<\/a>, Heights Holding<\/a>, Rocket Homes<\/a>, and PHEAA<\/a>). On March 5, the CFPB dropped its case against the company that runs the Zelle<\/a> payment platform and three U.S. banks, which had been filed in December.<\/td>The CFPB was created by Congress<\/a> in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to investigate banking fraud and oversee consumer financial services. In 2024, it expanded<\/a> its supervisory authority to include technology companies offering digital payment platforms, like Apple Pay, Venmo, and PayPal.<\/td>Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-25 <\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>The General Services Administration (GSA) terminates<\/a> the Federal Advisory Committee on Open Government.<\/strong><\/td>This 15\u2011member committee, first launched in April 2024<\/a>, provided expert advice on transparency, anti\u2011corruption, public participation, and digital governance. GSA terminated<\/a> the committee pursuant to a February 2025 executive order<\/a> directing agencies to eliminate \u201cunnecessary\u201d advisory panels. <\/td>General Services Administration (GSA)
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-25<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump signs Executive Order 14237<\/a>, \u201cAddressing Risks from Paul Weiss,\u201d<\/strong> directing agencies to suspend security clearances held by Paul Weiss lawyers (including, as directly named in the E.O., Mark Pomerantz); terminate or withhold all federal contracts and other benefits to the firm \u201cto the maximum extent permitted by law\u201d; and bar Paul Weiss employees from sensitive federal facilities and limit future hiring of the firm\u2019s personnel.
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\nPresident Trump adds that \u201c[g]lobal law firms have for years played an outsized role in undermining the judicial process and in the destruction of bedrock American principles.\u201d<\/td>		This order is one of several executive actions targeting major U.S. law firms for prior legal work the President described as personally detrimental. A bipartisan group of former officials<\/a> and others<\/a> write<\/a> that such orders risk chilling the independence of the legal profession.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-25<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump issues a White House memorandum<\/a> suspending the security clearances of all Covington & Burling lawyers who represented former Special Counsel Jack Smith<\/strong> and instructs agencies to terminate the firm\u2019s federal engagements \u201cto the maximum extent permitted by law.\u201d<\/td>This order is one of several executive actions targeting major U.S. law firms for prior legal work the President described as personally detrimental. A bipartisan group of former officials<\/a> and others<\/a> write<\/a> that similar orders and memoranda risk chilling the independence of the legal profession.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-23<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>All USAID direct-hire personnel, with limited exceptions, are placed on administrative leave<\/a> globally, effectively shuttering the department. <\/strong>This included those working on anti-corruption initiatives.<\/td>These cuts include defunding programs that focused on anti-corruption efforts, such as USAID's Dekleptification Guide<\/a>, which included tools like public asset declarations and ownership registries to specialized institutions to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and rule on cases of grand corruption. It also cut their work in the anti-corruption space<\/a>, which included establishing the permanent Anti-Corruption Center and providing technical assistance and developing technical guides to countering corruption worldwide.<\/td>U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-22<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth fires<\/a> top military lawyers, Lt. Gen. Joseph Berger III (Army), Rear Am. Lia M. Reynolds (Navy), Lt. Gen. Charles Lummer (Air Force).<\/strong> Hegseth justifies<\/a> the firings to reporters, explaining that he didn\u2019t want the military lawyers to put up \u201croadblocks to orders that are given by a commander in chief.\u201d<\/td>Military lawyers, or Judge Advocate Generals (JAGs) are responsible for upholding the Uniform Code of Military Justice<\/a>, and interpreting military law for top leaders.<\/td>Department of Defense (DOD)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-18<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reportedly fires<\/a> a significant number of staff from its privacy, communications, and FOIA teams\u2014reportedly including its entire privacy office.<\/strong>
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\nWhen CNN filed a FOIA request, the agency reportedly replied, \u201cGood luck with that; they just fired the whole privacy team.\u201d<\/td>		OPM\u2019s privacy unit ensures federal employees\u2019 personal data is protected and manages compliance with privacy laws and policies. FOIA and communications teams oversee government transparency and respond to public information requests.<\/td>Office of Personnel Management (OPM)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-18<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>The White House issues Executive Order 14215 titled \u201cEnsuring Accountability for All Agencies<\/a>,\u201d declaring that all executive power resides with the President<\/strong>, including independent agencies, to ensure unified execution of federal law. The order also declares that the \u201cPresident and the Attorney General shall provide authoritative interpretations of the law for the executive branch.\u201d<\/td>EO\u202f14215 significantly expands presidential oversight of independent agencies by requiring all agency rulemaking be preapproved by the president and that the legal positions offered by any executive department on behalf of the United States be consistent with the legal position held by the president or, by delegation, the attorney general.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-14<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson bars agency political appointees from holding American Bar Association (ABA) leadership roles, attending ABA events, or renewing ABA memberships<\/strong>, writing<\/a> that the organization \u201cadvances radical left\u2011wing causes and promotes the business interests of Big\u202fTech.\u201d<\/td>The ABA has long served as a major convening body for the legal profession, with senior administration officials routinely attending in its events. Analysts note<\/a> that restricting employees\u2019 participation in a mainstream professional body could limit engagement with peer regulators and outside experts, and may chill<\/a> interaction with organizations critical of administration policies<\/td>Federal Trade Commission (FTC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-11<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>David Hubbert, the head of the DOJ\u2019s Tax Division, resigns<\/a><\/strong> rather than accept an involuntary transfer to the Trump administration\u2019s new Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group.<\/td>The DOJ Tax Division works closely with the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) division, the enforcement arm of the IRS. IRS-CI investigates and sends prosecution referrals to the Tax Division when there is a tax matter involved.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ) <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-11<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>President Trump fires<\/a> USAID Inspector General Paul Martin.<\/strong> The removal proceeds without the 30 days\u2019 advance notice<\/a> to Congress and written explanation typically required by law.<\/td>The day before Martin was fired his office issued an advisory notice<\/a> warning that the administration's sweeping aid freeze had jeopardized oversight of $8.2\u202fbillion in unspent humanitarian funds and put $489\u202fmillion in food assistance at risk of spoilage.<\/td>U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-10<\/td>Enforcement Priorities <\/td>The White House issues Executive Order 14209<\/a>, pausing all Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement<\/strong>, which is the law that prohibits bribery to foreign officials. The E.O. (1) halts new FCPA cases for 180 days (unless authorized by the Attorney General), (2) directs the Attorney General to review all ongoing FCPA cases, and (3) requires the DOJ to issue updated enforcement guidelines. <\/td>The order states that FCPA enforcement has become overly expansive and may hurt U.S. foreign policy and economic interests. It authorizes a six-month pause in new cases, subject to special approval. Within 180 days, the DOJ must also finalize and publish new FCPA guidelines that narrow enforcement to \u201cserious misconduct\u201d affecting U.S. national security or harming U.S. companies, while de-emphasizing routine business practices or low\u2011value conduct.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-10<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>President Trump removes<\/a> David Huitema as the Director of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE)<\/strong>, reverting to an acting Director. Huitema was appointed by President Biden, confirmed by the Senate in November\u202f2024, and sworn in on December\u202f16,\u202f2024, for a five-year term.<\/td>Established in 1978, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) leads ethics<\/a> programs across more than 140 executive-branch agencies, overseeing financial disclosures, ethics training, and rules to prevent conflicts of interest. Part of its mission is to prevent financial conflicts of interest for government officials and ensure the federal government\u2019s actions and decisions are not unduly influenced by personal financial interests.<\/td>Office of Government Ethics (OGE)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-10<\/td>Transparency and Public Access <\/td>Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove instructs prosecutors<\/a> in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) to dismiss federal bribery charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams without prejudice <\/strong>\u201cas soon as is practicable.\u201d Multiple career prosecutors refuse<\/a> to carry out the directive and later resign<\/a> in protest.<\/td>Career prosecutors handling the case refused to prepare or sign the dismissal motion, stating in resignation<\/a> letters<\/a> that they saw no factual or legal reason for the DOJ to move to dismiss this case. On Apr. 2, Judge Ho (S.D.N.Y.) granted DOJ\u2019s request but dismissed the case with prejudice, writing that permitting a future refiling could leave the mayor \u201cmore beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents.\u201d Former federal prosecutors note<\/a> that overriding line prosecutors and prompting mass resignations is highly unusual and may chill future public-corruption investigations involving politically sensitive defendants. <\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-09<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>DOJ reportedly<\/a> weakened long-standing guardrails limiting White House contact with federal prosecutors.<\/strong><\/td>The Justice Department has reportedly<\/a> rescinded or revised prior guidance that restricted communications between the White House and DOJ officials, particularly concerning pending criminal cases. The changes reportedly ease the \u201cno contact\u201d rules that were designed to insulate law enforcement decisions from political influence. Under prior policy\u2014reaffirmed in a July 2021 memo<\/a> by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland\u2014such communications were strictly limited to prevent improper interference in prosecutorial matters.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-08<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>CFPB leadership unveils<\/a> a reduction\u2011in\u2011force plan to eliminate roughly\u202f1,400 of the agency\u2019s 1,600 positions<\/strong> (over 90 \u202fpercent of its staff) and instructs the Federal\u202fReserve to halt the Bureau\u2019s quarterly funding.
\n
\nTwo days later, reporters speaking with President Trump ask him to confirm that \u201chis goal was to have [the CFPB] totally eliminated<\/a>.\u201d President Trump replies, \u201cI would say, yeah, because we\u2019re trying to get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse.\u201d<\/td>		The CFPB was created by Congress<\/a> in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to investigate banking fraud and oversee consumer financial services. In 2024, it expanded<\/a> its supervisory authority to include technology companies offering digital payment platforms, like Apple Pay, Venmo, and PayPal.
\n
\nAdvocates say<\/a> that \u201cwith each day that the agency remains shut down, the financial institutions that seek to prey on consumers are emboldened\u2014harming their law-abiding competitors and the consumers who fall victim to them.\u201d <\/td>		Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-07<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>President Trump terminates<\/a> Hampton Dellinger, Head of the Office of Special Counsel.<\/strong><\/td>The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. Its authority<\/a> comes from four statutes: the Civil Service Reform Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hatch Act (which restricts partisan political activity by federal employees), and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). OSC\u2019s primary mission is to safeguard the federal merit system by protecting employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices<\/a>, including coercing political activity, nepotism, and retaliation for whistleblowing. It also serves as a secure channel for employees to report<\/a> government wrongdoing and enforces employment protections for military service members under USERRA.<\/td>U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC)
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-05<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative have reportedly been<\/a> granting tariff waivers<\/strong> to select companies and industries, raising concerns about preferential treatment.<\/td>Recent reporting suggests the tariff exemption process may advantage politically connected firms, functioning in effect as a spoils system. Prior studies<\/a> of similar processes during the first Trump administration found that corporations with political ties were more likely to secure exemptions.<\/td>Department of Commerce (DOC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-05<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Attorney General Pam Bondi ends<\/a> the DOJ's Task Force KleptoCapture, Kleptocracy Team, and the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiatives.<\/strong> Attorneys staffed on these teams are told to \u201creturn to their prior posts, and resources currently devoted to those efforts shall be committed to the total elimination of Cartels and [transnational criminal organizations].\u201d<\/td>These teams were created to protect the U.S. financial system from being used to launder the proceeds of corruption, investigate foreign corruption, and recover stolen assets. Recent cases<\/a> include a criminal case against the president of a Russian state-owned bank accused of violating U.S. sanctions and a case involving a Russian oligarch accused of laundering money.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-05<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Attorney General Pam Bondi limits<\/a> the types of criminal cases DOJ can bring under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) to cases similar to \u201cmore traditional espionage by foreign government actors<\/strong>.\u201d She also directs the FARA Unit to focus on civil enforcement, regulatory initiatives, and public guidance.<\/td>DOJ uses FARA to bring cases<\/a> against individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments or political interests without properly disclosing their activities. These cases include unregistered lobbying<\/a>, influence campaigns<\/a>, or covert public relations work.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-05<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Attorney General Bondi disbands the National Security Corporate Enforcement Unit<\/a><\/strong>. Bondi's memo directs staff from the unit to return to their prior assignments and reallocates DOJ's focus toward other priorities like transnational criminal organizations and terrorism-related offenses.<\/td>The National Security Corporate Enforcement Unit<\/a> was in charge of investigating and prosecuting companies and individuals for economic crimes tied to national security, such as evading sanctions and violating export controls.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-05<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly shrinking the size<\/a> of its cryptocurrency enforcement unit<\/strong> and re-assigning some of its 50-person staff.<\/td>The SEC's cryptocurrency enforcement unit was created<\/a> during the first Trump administration and then grew<\/a> under the Biden administration. It is responsible for bringing enforcement actions against fraudulent or unregistered crypto-asset offerings and platforms. Between its founding and December 2024, the unit brought over 200 crypto-related enforcement actions focusing on fraud and unregistered securities. The unit\u2019s work was more than half of the SEC's total recovered penalties<\/a> in 2024 (including $4.5\u202fbillion from the Terraform Labs and Kwon case<\/a>).<\/td>Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-05<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Attorney General Pam Bondi shuts down<\/a> the FBI\u2019s Foreign Influence Task Force<\/strong>, a unit created to investigate foreign meddling in U.S. elections and democracy. The task force was set up in 2017 to track and stop new forms of foreign interference. Bondi says the closure will help redirect resources to \u201cmore pressing priorities\u201d and prevent what she calls misuse of prosecutorial power.<\/td>The Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF) was a special FBI unit made up of experts from multiple divisions, including counterintelligence and cybercrime. Its job was to detect and stop foreign efforts to interfere in U.S. democracy<\/a>, particularly elections. The team worked closely with other U.S. intelligence agencies and international partners as part of a broader government effort<\/a> to respond to these threats.<\/td>Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-05<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>Attorney General Pam Bondi directs<\/a> the DOJ\u2019s Criminal Division to \u201creview and reassess\u201d the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)<\/strong> and to focus FCPA investigation on transnational organized crime and cartels.<\/td>The FCPA criminalizes bribery of foreign officials.
\n
\nWith the new guidance, DOJ prosecutors are instructed to prioritize FCPA investigations involving bribes tied to organized crime and drug cartels, while deprioritizing cases that do not involve such threats. Historically, DOJ has relied on other laws to prosecute transnational organized crime and cartels.
\n<\/td>		Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-02-03<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent\u2014also now acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)\u2014reportedly halts pending activities<\/a> at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB),<\/strong> including investigations, rulemaking, litigation and public communications.<\/td>The CFPB was created by Congress<\/a> in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to investigate banking fraud and oversee consumer financial services. In 2024, it expanded<\/a> its supervisory authority to include technology companies offering digital payment platforms, like Apple Pay, Venmo, and PayPal.<\/td>Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-31<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump fires<\/a> Gwynne A. Wilcox, Chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).<\/strong><\/td>The NLRB was established in 1935 and serves to<\/a> safeguard employee rights, governs labor unions, and acts to prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by the private sector. This is the first time<\/a> an NLRB member has been removed since the agency was created in 1935.<\/td>National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-27<\/td>Independent Agencies and Non-Government Entities<\/td>President Trump fires<\/a> two sitting members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)<\/strong>, leaving the five-member oversight body without the three-member quorum<\/a> it needs to issue reports, subpoena executive-branch agencies, or formally review surveillance programs.<\/td>PCLOB\u2019s primary mission<\/a> is to oversee intelligence and counter-terrorism surveillance for legality, necessity, and civil-liberties compliance. Although its focus is broader than corruption\u2010specific misconduct, the board forms part of the government\u2019s wider integrity architecture. It operates as an internal check<\/a> that executive-branch powers are exercised within the rule of law and not repurposed for improper ends. Loss of quorum effectively suspends that oversight.<\/td>Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-27<\/td>Transparency and Public Access<\/td>The head of DOJ\u2019s Public Integrity Unit resigns<\/a><\/strong> rather than accept a transfer to the Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group.<\/td>The DOJ Public Integrity Section is responsible for sensitive criminal probes and prosecutions of elected officials and judges for bribery and other misconduct. The head of the section, Corey Amudson, was in a career position and had been appointed by Attorney General William Barr during the first Trump administration.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-27
\n
\n<\/td>		Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>DOJ\u2019s senior-most career official, and the senior official designated to make ethics determinations for the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General, Associate Deputy Attorney General Brad Weinsheimer<\/a>, is informed of his reassignment from his position to the Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group<\/strong>. Weinsheimer eventually accepts deferred resignation. <\/td>Weinsheimer, a 33-year career DOJ official, held decision-making authority over referrals from the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), inspector general requests for grand jury material, and disclosures to Congress\u2014including privilege assertions and responses to subpoenas. This portfolio is later reassigned to two other career employees. Weinsheimer was initially appointed to his role on an interim basis by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and later made permanent by Attorney General Bill Barr.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-25<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>The Trump administration removes<\/a> roughly 18 inspectors general (IGs) across the federal government<\/strong>, including those at the Departments of Defense, State, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Intelligence Community. The removals proceed without the 30 days\u2019 advance notice to Congress and written explanation typically required by law.<\/td>Inspectors General (IGs) are independent watchdogs<\/a> within federal agencies responsible for detecting and preventing waste, fraud, abuse, and misconduct. Established under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act), their role is to conduct audits and investigations and keep both agency leadership and Congress informed of significant problems.<\/td>Multiple Agencies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-25<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>The Trump administration fires<\/a> Mike Ware<\/strong> from his position as Chair of Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE).<\/td>The Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE<\/a>) is an independent entity established by the Inspector General Act of 1978, tasked with promoting integrity, economy, and effectiveness across federal agencies through coordinated oversight and support of the Inspector General (IG) community. CIGIE is composed of all federal IGs and is responsible for addressing issues of waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs.<\/td>Council of Inspectors General (CIGIE)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-23<\/td>Enforcement Priorities<\/td>The president signs a new Executive Order, \u201cStrengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology<\/a>,\u201d establishing the Presidential Working Group on Digital Asset Markets, chaired by the White House AI & Crypto Czar, David Sacks. In the accompanying White House Fact Sheet<\/a>, the White House states that the president is \u201chalting aggressive enforcement actions and regulatory overreach that have stifled crypto innovation.\u201d <\/strong><\/td>As later reported in Dec. 2025, this is allegedly a part of a deliberate effort<\/a> to \u201crein in\u201d what the new SEC chair sees as the \u201cprior administration\u2019s overzealous stance toward the crypto industry.\u201d This is not just a departure from the Biden administration\u2019s approach toward prosecuting crypto cases. During the first Trump administration, the SEC brought<\/a> 50 crypto-related cases.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP); Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-21<\/td>Oversight and Watchdog Functions<\/td>President Trump fires or reassigns senior career employees<\/a><\/strong> in the DOJ\u2019s National Security Division, Criminal Division, and Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys<\/a>. <\/td>These career positions generally do not change with changes in administration and are designed to be insulated from political pressure. Those moved include the Deputy Assistant Attorney General<\/a> responsible for combatting foreign interference and the longtime Deputy Assistant Attorney General<\/a> who oversaw extradition and mutual\u2011legal\u2011assistance regarding all cross\u2011border crimes, including corruption, and who also was responsible for the Department\u2019s internal rule of law programs.<\/td>Department of Justice (DOJ)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2025-01-20<\/td>Federal Workforce<\/td>President Trump signs Executive Order 14171<\/a>, \u201cRestoring Accountability to Policy\u2011Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce.\u201d<\/strong> This order directs OPM to implement rulemaking to reclassify thousands of policy\u2011facing federal employees as at-will employees.<\/td>The order attempts to restrict the number of professional career civil servants that the government hires based on merit as opposed to political allegiance across the federal government. This sets the stage for sweeping changes to the federal government\u2019s professional civil service and threatens to roll back \u200b\u200bprotections designed to insulate career federal workers from corruption.<\/td>Executive Office of the President (EOP)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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