Welcome back, listeners. This week’s most significant headline from the Department of Justice comes from a sweeping set of changes in white collar crime enforcement and corporate compliance policy just announced by DOJ officials. On May 12, 2025, the DOJ unveiled what officials call their “broadest and clearest” enforcement statement yet—balancing the prosecution of corporate wrongdoing with an explicit promise not to “punish risk-taking” or “hinder innovation” in American enterprise. According to Criminal Division Chief Matthew Galeotti, white collar crimes remain, in his words, “significant threats to U.S. interests,” but federal prosecutors are now instructed to focus on the most serious and nationally impactful offenses.

The core tenets of these new DOJ policies are threefold: a focus on clear enforcement priorities, a commitment to fairness that outlines paths to leniency for cooperation and self-disclosure, and an emphasis on efficiency—meaning corporate monitorships will only be imposed where “heavy-handed intervention” is genuinely necessary. At the SIFMA annual financial crimes conference, DOJ leaders also announced enhanced incentives for whistleblowers, offering stronger protections and rewards for those who help expose fraud or corruption.

In a related update, the DOJ released new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act guidelines. These narrow enforcement to cases where bribery enables criminal organizations, threatens national security or U.S. infrastructure, or results in economic harm to American firms. According to litigation experts Wifredo Ferrer and Marcelo Ovejero, the emphasis is clearly on U.S. economic competitiveness and security rather than broad anti-corruption goals.

For American citizens, these changes aim to build more public trust in prosecutions—focusing resources on major crimes rather than burdensome interventions that can sideline business innovation or tie up local prosecutors. For businesses, these reforms reduce uncertainty: As DOJ puts it, companies demonstrating genuine compliance and transparency will see “leniency and alternatives” to prosecution more often. However, companies involved in egregious fraud or bribery—especially where national interests are at stake—should expect rigorous enforcement and potentially steep penalties.

State and local governments may see an increased federal role in high-impact cases. However, critics, including the Brennan Center for Justice, warn that DOJ’s new authority to overrule local prosecutors or remove oversight mechanisms, like consent decrees, risks injecting political considerations into local prosecution and eroding accountability at a community level.

Internationally, the DOJ’s focus on cartel activity and threats to U.S. infrastructure demonstrates a tougher stance in protecting American interests overseas. This has drawn notice from both American businesses and global partners, with many watching for impacts on cross-border trade and multinational compliance.

On the budget front, organizations should note DOJ funding cuts reported in April, which may affect grants to police reform, reentry programs, and local justice initiatives. The Bureau of Justice Assistance grant deadlines just passed last week, with new priorities likely in next year’s cycles.

For those looking to engage, DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs invites public comments on enforcement policies and welcomes whistleblower tips for potential rewards and protections under expanded initiatives. Business leaders are encouraged to review their compliance programs immediately, and local officials should be aware of evolving federal priorities.

In the coming weeks, watch for updates as the DOJ rolls out its new corporate compliance incentives and further guidance on prosecutorial discretion. For more information, visit DOJ’s official website or tune into upcoming DOJ public webinars.

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