Compliance & Ethics

What Happens When the Fight Against Corruption Hits Pause? The White House Halts FCPA Enforcement

When President Donald Trump signed an executive order on February 10, 2025, pausing the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), he set off a chain reaction that has reverberated through boardrooms and government offices alike. The executive order gives the Department of Justice (DOJ) 180 days to review and revise its approach to FCPA enforcement, a move that could dramatically reshape how the U.S. tackles international corruption.

Barclays Under Investigation for Gaps in Money-Laundering Oversight

Barclays has found itself in the midst of an investigation by the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) over its money-laundering controls. The London-based bank disclosed this news on Thursday in its annual report, confirming its full cooperation with the FCA as the regulator digs deeper into the bank’s handling of financial crime risks.

NTEU Files Lawsuits to Block CFPB Shutdown & Safeguard Employee Privacy

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has filed two lawsuits in response to recent executive actions that it argues threaten both the continued operation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the privacy of its employees. The lawsuits, filed on February 10, 2025, highlight concerns over the impact of these measures on both the agency's mission and the personal security of its workforce.

Fed Chair Powell in Congressional Testimony: CFPB Sole Agency for Consumer Protection Enforcement

In his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell faced a question that has been on the minds of many -What happens if the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a critical agency tasked with consumer protection, faces diminished funding or is otherwise hindered in its operations?

Brink’s Global Services Faces Penalties for Bank Secrecy Act Violations & Unlicensed Money Transmitting

Brink’s Global Services USA, Inc. (BGS), a well-known name in currency transport, is paying the price for serious compliance failures. The company has agreed to millions in penalties following multiple violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), a key piece of U.S. anti-money laundering (AML) law. This settlement includes a $37 million civil penalty levied by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and a $50 million forfeiture linked to criminal charges for operating as an unlicensed money transmitter.

Lockheed Martin to Pay $29.74 Million Over Alleged Overpricing on F-35 Contracts

Lockheed Martin, the defense giant behind the F-35 fighter jet, has agreed to pay $29.74 million to settle allegations of inflating pricing on key contracts, marking another chapter in the ongoing scrutiny of government contracting. The payment comes on top of a prior reimbursement of $11.3 million to the Department of Defense (DOD) for similar violations involving undisclosed cost and pricing data.

CFTC Restructures Enforcement Division to Focus on Fraud Prevention

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced a major reorganization of its Division of Enforcement, with a renewed focus on fraud prevention and market integrity. Acting Chairman Caroline D. Pham unveiled the restructuring on February 4, 2025, aiming to streamline operations and more effectively allocate the agency’s resources to combating fraud while reducing the practice of "regulation by enforcement."