U.S. President Donald Trump has proven himself to be a chaos agent in the opening weeks of his second term, firing federal workers, shuttering agencies, and issuing executive orders that attempt to upend policies and laws he doesn’t like.
Regulatory Policy
Posted inEthics & Culture
U.K. Employment Rights Bill promises to thwart forced labor through new consolidated regulator
For the past decade, the United Kingdom has tried to make companies more directly accountable for forced labor in their supply chains. But lawyers warn that the government’s latest plans to beef up protections against worker violations risk being heavily watered down and poorly policed by regulators.
Posted inRegulatory Policy
Senate votes along party lines to confirm RFK Jr. as secretary of HHS
The U.S. Senate has approved Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, placing President Donald Trump’s controversial pick at the helm of a $1.7 trillion department in transition.
Posted inAnti-Bribery
Trump has called for a six-month ban on FCPA enforcement. How should compliance respond?
With a six-month ban on enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, compliance should retreat from fear-based messaging and instead focus on why ethical practices make good business sense, experts say.
Posted inBoards & Shareholders
Apple bucks trend in Big Tech, defies anti-DEI headwinds
Apple, one of the most valuable tech giants on the planet, is pushing back against pressure to stop diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, saying that “a culture of belonging” remains a core value of the organization.
Posted inTechnology
Lawsuits filed to save CFPB amid Trump push to shutter financial watchdog
Enforcement and all other operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have come to a screeching halt under Trump administration directives but a pair of lawsuits aimed at keeping the agency open mean the stoppage could be short-lived.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
DOJ orders Lockheed Martin to pay $30M over defective pricing on F-35 contracts
The Department of Justice announced it reached a settlement with Lockheed Martin stemming from allegations of “defective pricing on contracts for F-35 military aircraft.” The deal comes days after Attorney General Pam Bondi was confirmed by the Senate, which will shift the DOJ’s focus away from white-collar misconduct.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Experts question effectiveness of new enforcement tool SFO is finally wielding
The U.K.’s Serious Fraud Office has made its first use of an enforcement tool that was meant to bring oligarchs and kleptocrats to book. But lawyers are unsure whether the move signifies either a change in direction or fortune for the agency.
Posted inAnti-Bribery
Bondi-led DOJ sharply pivots away from prosecution of corporate FCPA violations
The U.S. Department of Justice under new Attorney General Pam Bondi will de-emphasize white collar misconduct linked to bribes and foreign corruption, instead prioritizing corruption cases linked to human smuggling and the trafficking of narcotics and firearms.
Posted inFinancial Services
CFTC’s Pham announces end to ‘regulation by enforcement,’ consolidates task forces
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s enforcement division will end the practice of “regulation by enforcement,” according to Acting Chair Caroline Pham.
