Trump Moves to Dismantle Public Integrity Safeguards in Bold Shake-Up/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In his first weeks back in office, President Donald Trump has aggressively dismantled government watchdog agencies, firing key ethics officials and pausing enforcement of anti-bribery laws. His administration has also dropped corruption cases against political allies while purging prosecutors involved in past investigations against him. These actions mark a major shift in executive power, raising concerns about oversight, accountability, and conflicts of interest in his administration.
Trump’s Public Integrity Overhaul: Quick Looks
- In his first weeks back in office, Trump has dismissed key public integrity officials.
- He halted enforcement of anti-bribery laws for American companies.
- Inspectors general and whistleblower protection offices have been purged.
- A judge reinstated the fired head of the Office of Special Counsel.
- Trump’s administration also dropped corruption charges against political allies.
Trump Moves to Dismantle Public Integrity Safeguards in Bold Shake-Up
Trump’s Ethics Purge and Business Deregulation: A Deep Look
Just weeks into his new term, President Donald Trump has begun a sweeping effort to eliminate public integrity safeguards, targeting ethics offices and whistleblower protections. His actions signal a dramatic escalation from his first term, reflecting an intent to reshape government oversight entirely.
A Systematic Purge of Watchdogs
On Monday, Trump dismissed top officials overseeing government ethics and whistleblower protections. This included removing the heads of the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which enforces the Hatch Act and protects federal employees from political retaliation.
The president also took steps to halt enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)—a long-standing anti-bribery law that prevents American corporations from paying foreign officials for business advantages. His administration argues that such rules put U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage globally.
This aggressive action followed an earlier mass firing of more than a dozen inspectors general, officials responsible for rooting out corruption and fraud across federal agencies. These dismissals occurred in apparent violation of a law requiring 30 days’ notice to Congress before such removals.
“It’s the most corrupt start that we’ve ever seen in the history of the American presidency,” said Norm Eisen, a former U.S. ambassador and ethics adviser.
Retaliation Against Investigators
Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) recently dismissed prosecutors involved in high-profile investigations against him, including cases related to his alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Additionally, the administration has requested a list of federal agents who participated in the Jan. 6 riot investigations, raising concerns about possible retaliatory firings.
Trump’s moves appear to be an effort to consolidate control over the DOJ, ensuring that prosecutors remain loyal to his administration. Princeton historian Julian Zelizer notes that this level of intervention in the Justice Department is unprecedented.
“It’s a much bolder assertion than in his first term,” Zelizer said. “The end goal is to avoid accountability.”
Reinstating Allies and Dropping Corruption Cases
Trump’s administration has worked swiftly to undo past corruption cases against political allies. He pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, convicted of trying to sell Barack Obama’s Senate seat, and dropped bribery charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams.
Late Monday, however, a federal judge reinstated the fired OSC chief, Hampton Dellinger, pending further court proceedings. This marks the first legal challenge to Trump’s firings, setting the stage for a battle over his authority to remove oversight officials.
Rolling Back Business Ethics Rules
Trump’s push against public integrity protections extends beyond government oversight. He rescinded Biden-era ethics rules that had restricted lobbyists from transitioning into government positions and vice versa. These rules were designed to prevent conflicts of interest and limit corporate influence on federal policies.
The president defended his decision, claiming that strict ethics rules hinder government efficiency. However, the change comes amid growing concerns over his personal business interests.
A Return to Business Conflicts?
Unlike his first term, Trump’s private business dealings are closely linked to his administration. His company, The Trump Organization, has expanded its foreign deals, including new hotel and resort contracts in Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. While the company has a self-imposed rule against dealing with foreign governments, critics argue that private business agreements with foreign firms could still create conflicts of interest.
Additionally, Trump’s recent launch of a cryptocurrency token has raised new ethical questions, given the potential for financial entanglements while in office.
The Future of Government Oversight
Trump’s deregulation and ethics rollbacks are reshaping Washington in ways that could have lasting implications. While his actions have faced early legal challenges, his administration appears determined to eliminate many of the watchdogs that previously constrained him.
With Republicans controlling Congress, oversight may be limited, leaving federal courts and independent watchdog groups as the primary checks on Trump’s power.
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