US President Donald Trump has suspended the nearly 50-year-old Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). He has directed the US Justice Department to halt prosecuting Americans accused of bribing foreign government officials. The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to suspend FCPA prosecutions until she releases new guidelines promoting US competitiveness. “Future FCPA investigations and enforcement actions will be governed by this new guidance and must be approved by the attorney general,” the document said. This is the same law under which Indian businessman Gautam Adani is charged in the US for allegedly planning to bribe Indian officials. Trump's order to suspend prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act comes just 48 hours before Prime Minister Modi's US visit. Adani accused of ₹2,200 crore bribery Last year, industrialist Gautam Adani and eight others were accused of fraudulent activities amounting to billions of rupees. According to the charge sheet, renewable energy projects in India were allegedly acquired through improper means, with plans to bribe government officials with $250 million (approximately ₹2,029 crore). The accused were also charged with misleading American investors and banks. This case, involving Adani Green Energy Limited and another firm, was filed in the Federal Court of New York on October 24, 2024. However, the charge sheet did not confirm that any bribes were paid but rather that there was an intent to offer them, which allegedly violated the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The case was heard in court on November 20, 2024. Adani Group denied allegations On November 21, the Adani Group dismissed the accusations as baseless. In an official statement, the company stated: The allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against the directors of Adani Green Energy Limited are unfounded. We categorically deny them. Following the news, Gautam Adani's net worth fell by Rs 1.02 lakh crore. Meanwhile, Kenya cancelled two major deals with the Adani Group—one for power transmission and another for airport expansion—worth Rs 21,422 crores in total. Understanding the FCPA The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), enacted by the United States in 1977, prohibits US-registered companies from bribing foreign officials for business advantages. This anti-corruption legislation has been a cornerstone of American business ethics for over four decades. However, Trump has now moved to suspend this law. During Monday's signing ceremony in the White House Oval Office, he justified the decision by saying, "This decision will bring new trade opportunities for US." This isn't the first time Trump has targeted the FCPA – during his first term, he criticized it as "a terrible law" and claimed that it made the US a laughingstock internationally.Original Article